Just so you know, I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This comes at no additional cost to you but does help me to keep the blog running. Usborne Publishing Ltd. (UK) has no connection with these pages and does not sponsor or support their content.
For the second year in a row my sister, Nina Sanchez is sharing a Multicultural Children’s Book Day Review with my readers. Nina is the director of Enrich Chicago, an arts-based non-profit whose mission is to combat racism through the arts and book aficionada. While she has always been the resident book nerd, I mean guru, in our family, and is my go-to person for grown-up recommendations she is also very passionate about finding diverse children’s literature. I hope you enjoy her review!
Bruna
Bruna is the second picture book by author Evelyn Sánchez-Toledo (no relation). It is delightful! First, I love that the book is bilingual with both Spanish and English text on the page. No more sight translating for me, hooray!
Second, I love that the book engages the reader in age-appropriate culturally-responsive learning. It achieves this by connecting various peoples through a shared trait and its variations without endorsing any as the “norm”. It is a rainy day and Bruna and her Abuela decide to use their imaginations to take a trip around the world without leaving their living room. Music and dance are their guides as they explore Russia, Italy, India, Ghana, and Puerto Rico (among other countries).
This book is such a fun opportunity for creative extension activities at home, in the classroom, and beyond. Listening to music, watching videos of different dances would be great extensions. In addition, finding opportunities to experience live performances is a fun way to get out the wiggles and explore the world in your back yard!
Read Nina’s review of Evelyn Toledo-Sanchez’s first picture book Diego’s New America here.
Leave a Reply