Follow on InstagramMulticultural Children’s Book Day 2018 is in its 5th year and was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Their 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.
to Wisdom Tales Press and Kathy Floyd. I was so appreciative that Kathy took the time over the holidays to mail me a copy before I left on a trip so I would have the book to review. Wisdom Tales is a small book publisher that concentrates on children's picture books and books on different religions, philosophy and American Indian. wisdomtalespress.com
Natasha Yim’s newest
book "The Rock Maiden" was inspired by the large granite formation known as the Amah Rock in Hong Kong that
overlooks the sea. This natural rock
formation is said to be shaped like a woman with a baby on her back. Chinese
legend has it that the Amah Rock was formed when a young woman grieved over the
loss of her fisherman husband at sea and climbed the hill every day to search
for his return.
Growing
up Yim was familiar with the story that celebrated family, faithfulness, love and
devotion. In her new book “The Rock
Maiden” for ages four and up Natasha updates the folktale and puts her own spin on it by adding a happier ending. She uses evocative language to tell a love story of Ling Yee and her fisherman, husband Ching
Yin. They are devoted to each other. When Ching Yin is lost at sea during a
terrible storm, Ling Yee, refuses to accept Ching’s fate. Everyday Ling would put her baby on her
back and hike to the top of a cliff that overlooked the ocean where she
searched the horizon for her husband. Her grieving parents and villagers felt anguish watching her
suffer. Heartbroken by their daughter's mourning, for so many
months her parents plead with the patron the goddess of fishermen, Tin Hau to show pity.
Touched while observing the grieving mother scanning the horizon with baby in tow, Tin Hau brought the suffering to an end and turned the mother and child to stone as they stood at the top of the cliff. The villagers referred to the statue as the Rock Maiden.. The author reimagines a happier ending by rewarding both the loving wife and her husband for their loyalty and faithfulness to one another. The husband finds his way home to his loyal wife and son, and Tin Hau brings Ling Yee and her child back to life from the stone and returns them to human form.
Natasha’s retelling of the story is enhanced by the beautiful pastel illustrations of the Finnish children's book artist, Pirkko Vainio.
The story is a springboard
for discussion on family, loyalty and traditions. Note that some explanation will be needed for listeners
as when the husband returns after a year’s absence he looks older and the wife
and son appear as not having aged since they were frozen in time.
The Rock Maiden is a
timeless tale beautifully told that makes a great addition to the classroom or home.
Some suggested follow up activities include:
1.Research 7 famous statues inspired by fairy tales.
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/10/7-famous-statues-inspired-by-fairy-tales.html
2. Locate and research Amah statue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amah_Rock
3. Create a sculpture of Amah Rock using clay or play dough.
4. Use watercolors recreate a scene from the book.
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/10/7-famous-statues-inspired-by-fairy-tales.html
2. Locate and research Amah statue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amah_Rock
3. Create a sculpture of Amah Rock using clay or play dough.
4. Use watercolors recreate a scene from the book.
As a side note it was an honor in 2015 for me to review Natasha Yim's book for MCBD
Natasha has written for the children’s magazines, “Highlights for Children”, “Faces”, “Appleseeds”, and “Muse”, and is a regular contributor to Mendocino Arts Magazine. She is s currently working on a multicultural middle grade and a multicultural historical young adult novel.
Natasha awards include: 2000 Kids’ Pick of the Lists (Otto’s Rainy Day), Junior Library Guild selection, Scholastic Book Club selection, Amelia Bloomer reading list nominee, Illinois Monarch Awards nominee.
Connect with Natasha Yim via her Website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest She is also a 2018 MCBD Author Sponser.
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 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.
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 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.
This sounds wonderful and I love how you included activities for after the book!
ReplyDeleteSue, I appreciate your ongoing efforts to promote these books. More than ever, we need to set aside differences and realize we are all human beings. If we get our kids started young on this way of thinking perhaps things will change.
ReplyDeleteI really liked both these books by Natasha Lim too! Thanks for your terrific book reviews and for joining us for Multicultural Children's Book Day!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can join us tonight at our Twitter Party from 9-10pm EST. We will be giving away hundreds of diverse children's books in the form of 13 book bundles. One will be given away every six minutes.
The questions with the book prizes are posted here: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2018/01/readyourworld-twitter-party-11-book-bundle-giveaway/