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We are just a few short days away from our second Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I’ve been matched with one of our Platinum Sponsors Daybreak Press and Global Bookstore and a really cleverly written book called Sophia’s Journey by Najiyah Diana Maxfield.

This book is for middle school and above readers.

Sophia’s Journal does a very fine job of weaving. Yes weaving. It takes a 21st century muslim teenager, Sophia, who has a bad fall in a river. This dramatic tumble sends her back to the year 1857 and all that means. This beautifully written book looks at the ideas of race, religion, and bigotry from a multi century view. It gives us a front row seat and a glimpse into pivotal moments in American history as well as what it’s like to be a practicing muslim in the 21st century.

Sophia has to get use to new food and some times the lack of food, new entertainment such as knitting, and a new family. Sophia gets a first hand view at slavery and Native Americans from the year 1857.  The characters in the story are well developed and the sense of adventure and self discovery are greatly inspiring.

One of the things that really struck me as I read this book is that it dispels the “over there” mentally that we can so easily become a participant in. For example: “Muslims are those people over there,…….” Often times being viewed as the enemy. This myth is dispelled as author Najiyah Diana Maxfield intersperses the daily rhythms and gentle practices of the world’s muslims into this thoughtful coming of age tale. This is later reflected when the slave William is also a muslim from Africa.

Often times we look at things from the past as truly history. In Sophia’s Journal we deal first hand with the ideas of slavery, slave owners and the abolition movement as well as the poor view and treatment of Native Americans, there is even a mention or two of the suffragette movement. We could so easily say, that happened then and doesn’t concern us now. Not so. These topics are still very much alive today and currently continue to unfold.

I greatly admire this book and recommend it. First because is gives a positive light to both teenagers and muslims. Secondly because it is a well written story that is so captivating that I couldn’t put it down.

 Something To Do

In the back of Sophia’s Journal are a couple of wonderful recipes as well as two glossaries. One for the 1850’s and the other of Arabic terms commonly used by Muslims around the world.

I our something to do we are going to create a Time Traveler’s Journal where we will write notes about our explorations into 1850’s Kansas as well as Islam.

Take a blank sheet journal, pens, photos that you have printed off the computer and some glue and create a beautiful Common Book Journal about your journey into the world of Sophia.

A Look into Slavery

Slavery in America began in 1607 and continued until 1865. These links tell you more about this controversial but, for a long time, legal practice.

Here are some great book resources as well.

A Look at the Native Americans of Kansas

Kansas, a word readily recognizable as derived from the Native American tribal name Kansa, or “Wind People,” is a state possessing a rich Native American heritage.

The land we now call Kansas had been home to many Native American tribes. The Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita are tribes that are considered native to present day Kansas.

To learn more about the traditions of the Kansas Plains Native Americans I find Big Orrin’s website to have many facts geared towards children.

To learn more about these tribes and the history of the region please have a look here.

A Look into Prairie Life in Kansas

Here’s a good look at life on the Kansas prairie in 1850.

Want to know more about Sod Houses and how to build them have a look here.

A fun reading history book list about the prairies.

A Look at Islam

Islam is a world religion practiced by 1.7 billion people.  PBS has put together this fact sheet about muslims and the religion of Islam and here’s another look from CNN.

Another way to meet your world is through literature. Multicultural Children’s Books Day is such a celebration which has created a vast resource of multicultural books and authors on our website.

My Gift to YOU!

Don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of my Read Your World Multicultural Booklists and Activities for Kids.

The post Love to Time Travel? Sophia’s Journal Book Review appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Can you believe November is almost over?! January 27^th is coming up quickly and we are excited to share all sorts of wonderful updates and victories connected to this event:

Valarie and Mia just returned from the National Council of Social Studies meeting in Boston and are still processing the landslide of amazing connections, book donations and potential guest bloggers for MCCBD. A huge “thank you” to Platinum Sponsor Wisdom Tales Press for inviting Mia and Valarie to this event and helping to open doors to endless opportunities.

Speaking of sponsors, we have a ton of excellent sponsors thus far for MCCBD and more keep popping up! ::Happy Dance::  Here are our current sponsors:

Multicultural Children’s Book Day Sponsors

Our Platinum sponsor is back from last year, Wisdom Tales Press!

We have a new Platinum sponsor, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop & Gathering Space.

We have three new Gold sponsors: Satya House, Multicultural Kids, and Stephen Hodges of The Magic Poof!

We have one Silver Sponsor: Lee and Low Books and Omnibus Publishing.

We have five Bronze sponsors: Rainbow Books, Felicia Capers of Enough of Frankie Already!, Chronicle Books for Lowriders in Space, Muslim Writers Publishing, and Bliss Group Books.

We would like to encourage Sponsors to also pass the word and let multicultural children’s book authors know of our Author Blogroll page on the MCCBD site. For $50, authors can showcase a specific book title with description and links along with some specific social media tweets, pins and updates on their book.

Highlight thus far:

We have NINE amazing Co-Host. You can view them here.

This year, we have 100+ bloggers signed up and we are interviewing 25 authors and illustrators who came in through our collaboration with the Children’s Book Council… PLUS a huge list of generous book donators that we have already accumulated. Again, please pass the word if you know of any quality bloggers who would like to review books for this event.

We will be posting daily for 25 days on our Multicultural Children’s Book Day blog for the month of January. There will be author visits, giveaway and guest posts from Children’s Book Council members.

The MCCBD Team has decided that the official hashtag for MCCBD is #ReadYourWorld.

We are also partnering with First Books to help get new diversity books into the hands of kids. We are doing a virtual fundraising campaign on their behalf as well as donating proceeds from what we raise. Pass the word and you can view the Virtual Book Drive HERE.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s website and blog is coming together nicely and… ::drum roll:: we are officially a non-profit! Yay!

We are currently working with Publisher’s Weekly on an article about the MCCBD event.

There are a lot more exciting things in the pipeline for Multicultural Children’s Book Day to come. Thank you for your support!

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The post Exciting Updates and Collaborations for Multicultural Children’s Book Day! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.