Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day! I hope you are discovering a multitude of books that allow children to see themselves and others in the diversity of this world—today and always!

This year I was delighted that North-South Books sent me a review copy of their forthcoming book Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love, written and illustrated by the prolific Rashin Kheiriyeh. This picture book biography of the great Persian mystic and poet Rumi, who lived from 1207–1273, has a publication date of March 5, 2024.

I found my way to translations of Rumi’s poems as a young adult. Though his work was written about 800 years ago in a culture and language different from my own, I’ve been struck by how often his poems deeply resonate with me. What a wonderful confirmation of the consistency of human emotion and intellect across time and cultures. Children reading about Rumi will not only get to be introduced to this important poet, but also be reminded of how very long humans have been doing, thinking, and feeling human things.

The first thing you will notice when you hold this book in your hands is its utter beauty. The text appears in shiny gold foil, and the cover art bursts with color. In the center, young Rumi appears in the clothing of a Sufi Sama dancer. Kheiriyeh has managed to create cover art that embodies the depth and liveliness of Rumi’s writing and its connection to both nature and spirit. This visual beauty continues throughout the richly illustrated text.

Kheiryeh’s use of language, with vivid and sometimes poetic descriptions like “born on a crisp and colorful autumn day in Iran” and “he danced like a floating leaf,” and her thematic references to the sun match her illustrations in giving the sense that the world through Rumi’s eyes had an intensity that made its way into his poetry. Teachers can use the text to discuss poetic elements and make those connections.

Kheiriyeh deftly makes 13th-century Persia accessible to today’s children. Her focus includes the caring support of family, Rumi’s relationship to nature, his curiosity about the world, and expanding his understanding through stories. Later, he meets a teacher who becomes a friend. The loss of this teacher reveals his compassion and eventually leads him to his own writing path, for which we can all be grateful.

In an author’s note, readers learn that Kheiryeh grew up with Rumi’s books in Iran, and what his writing means to her. The back matter also includes a selected bibliography and more historical and cultural information. Here, readers who don’t already know can learn that that in addition to being a poet, Rumi was also an Islamic teacher and a Sufi mystic. They can also learn more about Sama, a ritual dance depicted in the text to thank God.

What a gift for children to be introduced to Rumi at such a young age—and to know that today people still remember and are inspired by this 13th-century poet.

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I imagine many in the Poetry Friday crowd will love knowing about this book, so I am sharing my review at this week’s Poetry Friday round-up on Susan Thomsen’s blog, Chicken Spaghetti. Check it out to delve into more poetry. I’ll mention here that I had hoped to include some poetry by Rumi in this post. I discovered that finding a poem that was both child-accessible and could be shared in a way that would respect the translator’s intellectual property defied my internet searching efforts. To direct teachers and others interested to a few sources: Kheriyeh’s selected bibliography cites the poetry collection, The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks. In my searching, I was also intrigued by the 2022 collection, Gold by Haleh Liza Gafori.

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11^th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

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

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

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films

Ruby Sponsor:  Crayola

Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations!

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

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

• MCBD 2024 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 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children’s Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here.

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 25, 2024, at our virtual party!