As our ninth Multicultural Children’s Book Day holiday approaches on January 28, 2022, we are thrilled to have an amazing community of supporters! The planning for our next online celebration is ramping up and we are looking forward to our next event with enthusiasm, optimism, and excitement! And as always, we hope everyone will join our celebration of diversity through children’s books again. Thank you for helping us to cultivate understanding, kindness, inclusion, and exploration of this beautiful world with quality diverse books for kids and teens.
We are fortunate to live in a country that is a melting pot of diversity and a land of opportunity. But not all those living in The Land of the Free have what they need for basic everyday living. Current estimates in the U.S. show that the official poverty rate is somewhere around 12.7 percent, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 estimates. That year, an estimated 43.1 million Americans lived in poverty according to the official measure.
But what does that mean? The official definition of poverty is “a condition where people’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met.” Poverty rates are highest for families headed by single women, particularly if they are black or Hispanic according to the National Poverty Center. Most of these women have children and without additional income from a spouse, are at a greater risk of poverty. Whether you are living it, witnessing it, or talking about it, keep in mind that poverty may seem like a deep and scary topic for many kids. To help the next generation understand and be part of the solution, diverse books that shine the spotlight on this topic and help adults facilitate those tough conversations are a “must-have” for any home or classroom bookshelf. Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s FREE Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate–Understanding Poverty in America Classroom Kit is a resource, booklist, and activity guide all in one downloadable PDF.
Created in 2018, this free classroom kit includes over 2 dozen poverty in the U.S.-themed book recommendations for ages 4-12, two classroom or home activities, and a copy of the official “Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate” Classroom Poster thanks to the talents of award-winning illustrator, Mehrdokht Amini. Download your free kit here. Enjoy!
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 9th annual celebration will take place on January 28, 2022. For more information, visit Multicultural Children’s Book Day on the web.
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