Grand Joy: A Review

Grand Joy: A Review

This book was #gifted.

Grand Joy is an uplifting celebration of all things joy. The authors ascribe Grand Joy to the people, places, things and experiences in life from the perspective the very young and the young at heart. 

The text is vibrant with expressive language and rich details that makes the reader want to be a part of each Grand Joy experience. Brilliant images and colors schemes complement the text perfectly and radiate JOY with each turn of the page.

Kuddos to Kim C. Lee, K. Denise Hendershot, and Gabrielle Fludd for gracing our world with such a wonderfully positive message. Thank you for creating "windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors" for my students.

Grand Joy completely captivated their attention, and they expressed many personal connections as I read. They gave this book a 5-star rating.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2023 (1/26/22) is in its 10th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Ten years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.

MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages 

🏅 Gold Sponsors: Interlink Books, Publisher Spotlight 

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Cardinal Rule Press,  Lee & Low, Barefoot Books, Kimberly Gordon Biddle

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Vivian Kirkfield, Patrice McLaurin , Quarto Group, Carole P. Roman, Star Bright Books, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Bay Equity Home Loans, Rent.com, Title Forward

Poster Artist:  Lisa Wee

  

Classroom Kit Poster: Led Bradshaw

MCBD 2023 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Sivan Hong, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Josh Funk , Stephanie M. Wildman, Gwen Jackson, Diana Huang, Afsaneh Moradian, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Eugenia Chu, Jacqueline Jules, Alejandra Domenzain, Gaia Cornwall, Ruth Spiro, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young/Twin Powers Books, Kimberly Lee , Tameka Fryer Brown, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Marcia Argueta Mickelson, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Jennie Liu, Heather Murphy Capps, Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Maritza M Mejia, Lois Petren, J.C. Kato and J.C.², CultureGroove, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Red Comet Press, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Nancy Tupper Ling, Deborah Acio, Asha Hagood, Priya Kumari, Chris Singleton, Padma Venkatraman, Teresa Robeson, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Martha Seif Simpson, Rochelle Melander, Alva Sachs, Moni Ritchie Hadley, Gea Meijering, Frances Díaz Evans, Michael Genhart, Angela H. Dale, Courtney Kelly, Queenbe Monyei, Jamia Wilson, Charnaie Gordon, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Debbie Zapata, Jacquetta Nammar Feldman, Natasha Yim, Tracy T. Agnelli, Kitty Feld, Anna Maria DiDio, Ko Kim, Shachi Kaushik 

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!

Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

• MCBD 2023 Poster

• Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit

• Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents

• Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

• FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit

• FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit

• FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit

• FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit

• FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit

• Gallery of Our Free Posters

• FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party
Join us on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9 pm EST for the 10th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 26, 2023, at our virtual party!

I Did Not Burn Down the House - SOL - January 3, 2023

Slice of Life Story Challenge

 I
DID NOT
burn down the house
twice last week.

The first day
I
DID NOT
burn down the house,
a fire sparked
in the microwave
while I was popping
a bag of popcorn.

The second day
I
DID NOT
burn down the house,
flames shot out
the back of the grill hood
while I was grilling
steaks.

Needless to say,
anytime
one 
DOES NOT
burn down the house
two days in a row,
one 
DOES
unbox the brand new
fire extinguisher
and 
place it on the kitchen table
for quick and easy access.

Just in case.

Linger - SOS no. 91

 

Sharing Our Stories #91

In the summer, the days were long, stretching into each other. Out of school, everything was on pause and yet happening at the same time, this collection of weeks when anything was possible.

[Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride]

I heard it said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Sarah Dessen's words about summer caused me to think of the flip-side of the coin - the school year. 

I invite my readers to linger, but only for a moment, as it is summer after all.

In the fall, winter and spring, the days are lengthy, extending one into another. During the school year, everything is fast-paced ~ moving, changing, and happening very quickly; and yet time seems to stand still, this collection of months when ALL things must get done.

[Donnetta Norris, July 2, 2022]

The End - Day 31 - SOL 2022

Write. Share. Give 

Today is the last day of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge for 2022.

I am proud that I wrote and posted 29 out of 31 Slices.

I am a teeny bit disappointed that I missed 2 days. 

However, if there is one thing I've learned on the this writing journey, 

it is to give myself grace and to keep showing up to the page.

Lock the Door Behind You - Day 30 - SOL 2022

 

Write. Share. Give

https://bzotto.medium.com/this-is-the-only-good-lock-for-a-public-restroom-door-13d5d5b5598c

I work in a school in which most of the faculty and staff are women. There is one man on our campus, our counselor.

On our hallway, there are two teacher bathrooms. One is designated for women; the other for men; both have locks similar to one pictured above.

Since there are no male teachers on our hall, the female teachers use the men's restroom when the women's restroom is occupied.

Unlike the lock pictured, our doors are labeled "Locked" to show occupants which way to turn the lock so one can make sure the door is locked before taking care of business.

If you are a teacher, you probably can relate to what I will describe next.

• My students are in specials, so it's my conference time. It's almost time to pick them up, but I need to go take care of business.
• I wear a fanny pack that holds my badge, keys, cellphone, and Mustang Bucks (used to reward students for meeting expectations).
• I enter the lavatory. Take off my fanny pack. Take care of business.
• Just as I'm buckling my belt, and about to wash my hands, the bathroom door swings open.

Fortunately, I was finished and completely dressed.

My colleague and I had a good laugh, and I learned that she was the reason the labels were placed on the doors in the first place.

App Savvy - Day 29 - SOL 2022

Write. Share. Give  

I am old fashion when it comes to making purchases.

Although, I'm not writing checks. much these days, except to pay some bills, I still use my debit and credit cards to make most purchases. I think it's mostly about having control.

I have only recently learned how to use apps for preordering food and beverages.

And, I'm rather proud of myself.

You probably already know how this works, but indulge me.

I place my order in the app.

I pay in the app.

I drive to the location and either walk in to pick up my order or my order is brought to me while I wait in the parking lot.

Pretty convenient, right? Right. Except when it's not.

March 29, 2022

5:50am - 10 minutes before the end of my workout, I place my Starbucks order.

(Iced Shaken Espresso: Oat Milk, 3 Shots of Expresso, 2 Pumps of Classic Syrup instead of 4, Ice)

6:00am - I drive to the selected Starbucks location. They don't appear to be open on the inside, so I drive around to the drive thru. No one greets me at the speaker, so I drive around to the window. They don't appear to be open, at. all. 

The baristas are all standing outside the store waiting for the manager who has not shown up yet.

When I inquired about getting the drink I ordered in the app, I was preparing myself to hear that they were sorry and would not be able to help, or that I would have to come back once the story was open.

But, fortunately, that was not the case.

I was told I could go to another Starbucks location, show them my order on the app, and they would help me. 

I was skeptical, so as I headed toward the location near my house, I called the store, and much to my amazement, they were more that willing to make my order.

I was inconvenienced, but I got my drink.

Cooking Is (Usually) Not For Me - Day 28 - SOL 2022

Write. Share. Give  

I recently wrote a poem about how cooking was NOT my jam. But, I have to meal prep for lunch or else I will spend $4.50 on a student-portion school lunch. 

I came across a video on Instagram of someone cooking Egg Rolls in a Bowl. I thought, "I could make that." If I do cook, I'd rather it be a one pot/pan deal, and this recipe was exactly that.

Here is the original recipe with my modifications. 

Credit goes to @mealprepmondays (IG).

Ingredients: 🍚
1 lb ground turkey
Jasmine @minutericeus Cups x4 - I used the Minute Brown Rice w/ Quinoa
½ diced onion
2 tsp. minced garlic
Shredded cabbage and carrots (or broccoli, cabbage, carrot coleslaw pre-mix from the store)
Salt to taste
1 Chicken Bouillon Seasoning
Garlic Powder to taste
Onion Powder to taste
Curry Powder to taste
Ground Ginger to taste
Chopped Green onion (garnish)
Chili paste - I used Chili Garlic Sauce

Instructions: 👨‍🍳 (I layered the seasonings in as I added the ingredients, except the salt.)
In a medium pan saute diced onions in olive oil, then add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Once the turkey is cooked add in the cabbage mix and seasonings. Stir and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. (Make sure to taste for seasoning). Cook your Minute Rice cups in the microwave and then add 1 each to a meal prep bowl. Top with your turkey and veggie mix. Then drizzle over the sriracha (I use enough Chili Garlic Sauce to not need sriracha.) and sprinkle green onions on top! This recipe makes four meals.

Throughout the cooking process, I was a bit skeptical about how it would taste. I sampled it when it was done, but decided not eat any until lunch the next day. 

I was not disappointed. This recipe is DELICIOUS!!