Holiday Gift Ideas: Books to Learn & Create with a Japanese Spin

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

For those who celebrate, did you enjoy your Thanksgiving? We had a nice time with my family. Yesterday was Black Friday which is of course the kickoff to holiday shopping. Did you get any deals? Today I thought I would share some gift ideas for kids. I love gifting books especially ones they can use to create or keep themselves busy. Today I have three great books for you and all three have a Japanese spin to them. We will start with the first one that is truly one that is meant for creating. It is Hokusai Dot-to-Dot Puzzle Book from Tuttle Publishing. I would say this is for upper elementary and older. My middle school and high school students love this book!

Summer Theme: Food! Grow It, Cook It! Learn About It and the World!

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books and song/video in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This year I have been sharing some summer themes to explore with your kids and keep them off screens, get outside and family time! One of my favorite topics for summer themes or even any time of the year theme. It is food! With food you can talk about growing it, cooking it, different cultures, and where it comes from. Last month I shared a review of my favorite book of 2025 thus far, The Traveling Taco by Mia Wenjen. I'm not the only one who loves this book!! In fact Mia actually asked Daria to write a song to go with the book! Daria shared her fun song, "The Traveling Taco Song," with me and asked if I would share it with you!! Check out her new video that goes with it too! You can stream the song here. 

The Traveling Taco: The Amazing & Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Where do tacos come from? What about pizza? We have all heard stories of food coming from one place or another and even some stories about different places claiming the first of a food. Today I get to share a fun new book with you that explores the origins of some of our favorite foods and how they became what they are today. The book is The Traveling Taco: The Amazing & Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong. Mia blogs over at Pragmatic Mom and is cofounder of Read Your World (formerly Multicultural Children's Book Day). The book is recommended for ages 5 to 8. 

Dragon Surf -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Read Your World Celebration Day is fast approaching. Today I am going to share the final of my books for this year's celebration. It is a young adult fantasy novel combining California surfing life with ancient China. The book is Dragon Surf by D. G. Driver with Jeni Bautista Richard. 

Ady and Me -- #ReadYourWorld Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January is flying by!! We only have a couple more weeks until the big day--the Read Your World Celebration!! We are sharing another book for the big event. This one shares about a neurodivergent young girl and how her ADHD affects her life especially at school. The book is not released yet but will be coming out in April 2025. The book is Ady and Me by Richard Pink and Roxanne Pink and illustrated by Sara Rhys. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January continues and so do my Read Your World (previously Multicultural Children's Book Day) reviews. Today I get to share a fun picture book about a new stepfamily that is combining their religious spring celebrations. The book is Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls by Janie Emaus and illustrated by Bryan Langdo. It is recommended for ages 4 to 6. 

Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Our January reviews for the Read Your World (aka Multicultural Children's Book Day) continue. Today I get to share a nonfiction picture book that will be released in February. It shares a bit of the history of a Hawaiian island and the military. It is Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley and illustrated by Harinani Orme. It is recommended for ages 7 to 11.

Worry Won't Win! Moe & Liza Explore Anxiety -- a MCBD Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January has begun! That means it is time to review books for Multicultural Children's Book Day which is on January 30th this year! I always love reviewing the books for MCBD. It introduces me to new authors and publishers!! It is always so much fun! Today I get to share with you a wonderful picture book about having anxiety. It is Worry Won't Win! Moe & Liza Explore Anxiety by Christine Reynebeau and illustrated by Rachael Hawkes. I don't see an age recommendation for this book but would say 6 to 10 year-olds would enjoy reading it on their own and probably 4+ to have it read to and discussed with. 

Multicultural Books focusing on Asia and Asian American Cultures

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are continuing our book roundups as the holidays get closer and closer. Today we are sharing some multicultural books with an Asian theme. The books include a picture book, a book of folk tales and a picture dictionary. These are perfect for classrooms, libraries as well as families. We will start with the picture book. It is We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12. 

New Picture Books About Dad and Bedtime

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Father's Day is quickly approaching and today I get to share two fun new bedtime books where Dad is in charge of getting the little one to sleep. The first is by blogger and co-founder of Multicultural Children's Book Day/Read Your World, Mia Wenjen. The book is Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime and is illustrated by Kai Gietzen. It is recommended for ages 3 and up. 

Orbit

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am sharing my final review for Multicultural Children's Book Day 2024. It is hard to believe the day is almost here!! Today we are sharing a young adult sci-fi novel that will have you questioning morals and ethics. The book is Orbit by Leigh Hellman. 

Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Activity Book -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am sharing with you a fun growth mindset activity book. The book is part of the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series. It is Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Activity Book by Deedee Cummings and illustrated by Charlene Mosley. The series is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

Coco the Puerto Rican Parrot -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am sharing another great book for Multicultural Children's Book Day!! Today we are looking at a book about a Puerto Rican parrot which shares some information about the parrots and Puerto Rico as well as a message about how amazing bilingual people are. The book is Coco the Puerto Rican Parrot by Frances Diaz Evans and illustrated by Alejandra Lopez. I am also including a round-up of parrot crafts to go with the book. 

In the Nick of Time Too -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am sharing another review for Multicultural Children's Book Day. The special day is coming fast! Today's book is a holiday book that deals with embracing our differences. The book is In the Nick of Time Too by Deedee Cummings and illustrated by Charlene Mosley. It is recommended for ages 4 to 10. 

Hide and Shh! -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I am so excited to be a Multicultural Children's Book Day reviewer this year!! I somehow missed signing up last year and it made me really sad. It was the only year I didn't participate in this amazing event. I am blaming going back to work full time. However this year I made sure to sign up as a reviewer!! Today I am going to share the first of the books I am reviewing and it is such a sweet book about inclusion. It is called Hide and Shh! A Not-So-Sneaky Sister Story about Inclusion by Christine Dendy and illustrated by Nathalia Takeyama. It is recommended for ages 5 to 7.

Multicultural Rhyming Picture Books That Inspire Us -- A Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent digital copies of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Multicultural Children's Book Day was on Friday. You can check out the amazing link party sharing all the reviews of the sponsored books as well as other multicultural children's books from throughout the year. Today I get to share with you three more books from Crystel Patterson, a Bronze Sponsor of Multicultural Children's Book Day. Each of these books are rhyming picture books and are a series called Inspired to Be and are all written by Crystel Patterson and illustrated by Briana Young. The first book we will share is One Flip, Two Flip, Three Flip, Four and was inspired by Gabby Douglas. 

Multicultural Children's Book Day BIG Link Party #readyourworld

 

Today is the day!! It is Multicultural Children's Book Day! What does this mean? Well, if you have been reading my posts all month you will know I shared five multicultural books this month in preparation for today. Many other people, bloggers, influencers, etc. have done the same thing on their blogs and social media. Today we all gather and share all of the reviews (as well as other multicultural book reviews) in a big link party (scroll down to join). 

Queen Goharshad -- Brave with Beauty -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever heard of Queen Goharshad? She was queen of Khorashan back in the 1400s. Khorashan was in present day Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. She is remembered for the buildings she built including the Goharshad Mosque (in present day Iran) and for supporting the arts. Today I get to share with you a wonderful picture book based on this amazing woman and her accomplishments. The book is called Brave with Beauty: A Story of Afghanistan by Maxine Rose Schur with art by Patricia Grush, Robin Dewitt, and Golsa Yaghoobi. It is recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: These Shoes Are Made for Dancing -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever had one of those bad days? You know when you think the world is against you? We all have them--even kids. Today I get to share with you a book for young readers that deals with just that! It is the fourth book in the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Series. The book is These Shoes Are Made for Dancing by Deedee Cummings and illustrated by Charlene Mosley. The series is recommended for ages 4 to 8. (To see my reviews of some more of Deedee Cummings' books, click here.)

Dinner on Domingos -- a Multicultural Children's Book Day Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Does your family or did your family have a tradition of Sunday dinner? I remember when I was young, we would gather at my grandparents' house for Sunday dinner. Often it would be a steak dinner or some type of beef I believe, but that is not really a memory, but more information told to me. The memory I have is when my cousin was a baby. I remember his holding my finger with his little hands for hours. I was finally not the baby of the family anymore. The funny thing is I don't remember his younger sister as a baby, but I remember him. Today I get to share with you a story about a Sunday dinner tradition in an Ecuadorian-American family and it has a family recipe to try at the end!! (We tried it and I loved it!!) The book is Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona and illustrated by Claudia Navarro. This book is recommended for ages 5 to 8 and this review is for Multicultural Children's Book Day! Join us here, we are co-hosting, on January 28th for the BIG LINKY of all the Multicultural Children's Books and the celebration. There is more information about it all below!