Katie Woo, We Love You! - Multicultural Children's Book Day 2018 #ReadYourWorld

This is my second year participating in the Multicultural Children's Book Day 2018 (1/27/18) and I join numerous reviewers in highlighting books which celebrate diversity. The copy of this chapter book, sent me from Capstone Publishing, for purposes of this review, will be donated to a classroom in Seattle, WA - through Reading Partners Seattle.

Katie Woo, We Love You!

Author: Fran Manushkin

Illustrator: Tammie Lyon

Publisher: Capstone Publishing (2018)

Ages: 5-7

Fiction

Themes:

Friendship, belonging, being yourself, anger, and perseverance

Synopsis (from Capstone):

From starting clubs to hosting sleepovers, Katie Woo is one fun friend! Come along on her big adventures and funny mishaps. Whether she's playing at home or working at school, everything Katie does has us singing, "Katie Woo, we love you!"

Opening Lines:

Katie was talking to JoJo.She said, "Wouldn't it be fun to be in a club?"

"For sure," said JoJo. "It would be the best!"

Sophie Silver heard Katie and JoJo.

"Guess what?" she said. "I'm starting a club. It will be the best."

Why I like this book:

This early reader chapter book contains four unique stories, each a perfect length and vocabulary for encouraging newly independent readers.

The stories address the friendship and interactions of a very diverse group of first or second graders. Katie Woo and her Asian, African American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Caucasian friends navigate:

Cliques ("The Best Club");

Sleepovers ("Katie's Spooky Sleepover");

Anger and cooperation ("Katie Blows Her Top"); and a Daddy-daughter dance ("Daddy Can't Dance").

Katie Woo and her friends' magnetic personalities, as well as the bright, lively illustrations, immediately grab the reader's attention and make this a really fun book for early elementary kids. Avoiding being preachy, Katie Woo offers fun nuggets about being yourself, conquering your fears, managing your anger, and creative dancing.

With nine other Katie Woo books (so far), beginning readers will enjoy lots of adventures as they develop their love of reading.

Resources:

- each book offers crafts and activities, such as tissue paper flowers and peanut butter and jelly sushi; and

- activities to pair with Katie Woo stories (http://www.orientaltrading.com/katie-woo-books-activity-idea-a2-13752837.fltr)

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2018 (1/27/18) is in its 5th year and was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Our mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in home and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents and educators.

Current Sponsors:

MCBD 2018 is honored to have some amazing Sponsors on board.

2018 MCBD Medallion Sponsors

HONORARY: Children’s Book Council, Junior Library Guild

PLATINUM: Scholastic Book Clubs

GOLD: Audrey Press, Candlewick Press, Loving Lion Books, Second Story Press, Star Bright Books, Worldwide Buddies

SILVER: Capstone Publishing, Author Charlotte Riggle, Child’s Play USA, KidLit TV, Pack-n-Go Girls, Plum Street Press

BRONZE: Barefoot Books, Carole P. Roman, Charlesbridge Publishing, Dr. Crystal Bowe, Gokul! World, Green Kids Club, Gwen Jackson, Jacqueline Woodson, Juan J. Guerra, Language Lizard, Lee & Low Books, RhymeTime Storybooks, Sanya Whittaker Gragg, TimTimTom Books, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Wisdom Tales Press.

2018 Author Sponsors

Honorary Author Sponsors: Author/Illustrator Aram Kim and Author/Illustrator Juana Medina

Author Janet Balletta, Author Susan Bernardo, Author Carmen Bernier-Grand, Author Tasheba Berry-McLaren and Space2Launch, Bollywood Groove Books, Author Anne Broyles, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw, Author Eugenia Chu, Author Lesa Cline-Ransome, Author Medeia Cohan and Shade 7 Publishing, Desi Babies, Author Dani Dixon and Tumble Creek Press, Author Judy Dodge Cummings, Author D.G. Driver, Author Nicole Fenner and Sister Girl Publishing, Debbi Michiko Florence, Author Josh Funk, Author Maria Gianferrari, Author Daphnie Glenn, Globe Smart Kids, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Author Quentin Holmes, Author Esther Iverem, Jennifer Joseph: Alphabet Oddities, Author Kizzie Jones, Author Faith L Justice , Author P.J. LaRue and MysticPrincesses.com, Author Karen Leggett Abouraya, Author Sylvia Liu, Author Sherri Maret, Author Melissa Martin Ph.D., Author Lesli Mitchell, Pinky Mukhi and We Are One, Author Miranda Paul, Author Carlotta Penn, Real Dads Read, Greg Ransom, Author Sandra L. Richards, RealMVPKids, Author Andrea Scott, Alva Sachs and Three Wishes Publishing, Shelly Bean the Sports Queen, Author Sarah Stevenson, Author Gayle H. Swift, Author Elsa Takaoka, Author Christine Taylor-Butler, Nicholette Thomas and MFL Publishing, Author Andrea Y. Wang, Author Jane Whittingham, and Author Natasha Yim.

We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.

TWITTER PARTY Sponsored by Scholastic Book Clubs: MCBD’s super-popular (and crazy-fun) annual Twitter Party will be held 1/27/18 at 9:00pm.

Join the conversation and win one of 12-5 book bundles and one Grand Prize Book Bundle (12 books) that will be given away at the party! http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/twitter-party-great-conversations-fun-prizes-chance-readyourworld-1-27-18/.

Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: http://bit.ly/1kGZrta.

Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/teacher-classroom-empathy-kit/

Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.