Our world is an exciting and interesting place to live in. Family dynamics are changing, and the world our kids are inheriting is a unique combo of different cultures, races, lifestyles, and traditions that are just waiting to be explored. The learning opportunities are endless!
Since foreign travel for many has been put on hold because of the global pandemic, books that provide families with the chance to grow and explore are more crucial than ever. And how these books are being consumed has changed as well.
The Multicultural Children’s Book Day team has always been strong supporters of utilizing hometown resources like public libraries and locally owned bookstores. But the reality of COVID-19 has made it difficult, if not impossible, for those community gems to be accessed.
With that in mind, families are continually looking for new and innovative ways to keep their youngsters reading while also providing books that reflect the diverse world around them. Here are a few ways to discover new titles to fall in love with:
eBooks: There was a time when ebooks were considered the “third-best” way to enjoy a book with physical books and audiobooks taking the first and second places. But with more and more families working and learning from home, ebooks have risen in popularity along with the use of e-readers and other devices. Even best-selling favorites like The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, and I Am Enough by Grace Byers are available in Kindle ebook form.
Podcasts: If your young reader favors listening to book or audibly enjoying stories that pique interests in science, history, and even fairy tales, you are in luck! A new and fun series has debuted that is the brainchild of Geek Club Books founder Jody Murphy’s son, Jonathon Cormur.
The Dorktales Storytime Podcast is full of geeky retellings of classic fairy tales with pop-culture Easter eggs in every story. Launched in mid-2020, this hilarious and entertaining podcast also includes Hidden Heroes of History (real stories about lesser-known heroes who have changed history) and The STEAMers and DREAMers for fans of science and STEAM. This podcast series is free so check it out here.
Innovative and Entertaining Programming: Who can ignore what a gift ALA BEST Website for Kids winner, KidLitTV, is! This ever-changing site is perfect for exploring children’s books with videos that will appeal to both kids and their grown-ups.
KidLitTV is a diverse group of parents, educators, librarians, kid lit creators, and award-winning filmmakers working together to bring great book recommendations to kids.
In a nutshell, reading books is shifting and changing along with the needs of the readers. What new way to enjoy a book will your family try today?
Keep Calm and Read On!
Rebecca “Becky” Flansburg is an author, freelance writer, and project manager for the non-profit online children’s literacy initiative, Multicultural Children’s Book Day/ #ReadYourWorld. Join the celebration! Our 8th annual celebration will take place on January 29, 2021. For more information, visit Multicultural Children’s Book Day on the web.
Leave Your Comment