Guardian Angel Publishing Champions Multi-Cultural Books for Kids

Several weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on Guardian Angel Publishing and protagonists of color.  The publisher, Lynda Burch and many of the authors are dedicated to this policy. 

Thank You, Author/Artist Margot Finke

In this post, I am  showcasing authors who write books featuring multicultural children as protagonists.  I hope you will find them inspiring and useful for your young ones, classroom or library.

A list, alphabetically by author is as follows:  (Please click on the author's name for all pertinent information.)

Barbara Arbo   Scripture for Kids 

A book packed with Scripture promises along with color visuals to apply God's word to their lives.



Penelope Cole     Magical Mea

Matthew's little sister is a trickster.  Mea got her magic when Matthew lost his.  Matthew tries to guide Mea to use hers for good.  But she wants to do it her way.  Will she get in trouble?

In the words of Lynda S. Burch, publisher of Guardian Angel Publishing:

Guardian Angel is proud to offer a mixed variety of children's books for all ethnicities and also multiple language platforms.  We have been aware of the needs for a broader base of stories for kids from around the globe and in our own backyards and have extended our efforts to produce quality children's books that kids can identify with-no matter their skin color or ethnicity.  Many of our books include multicultural characters that gently teach acceptance for all children of the world.  We believe in cultural diversity is a literary portal from which we can embrace our global community with our books.

Janet Ann Collins           Signs of Trouble

Children with learning disabilities get separated from their Special Education class on a field trip and use what they’ve learned to get reunited with them. The included activities can help children learn safety rules, understanding of people with special needs, basic reading skills, and creative writing skills.  They, of course, are the heroes!

Andi Houdak    Stop That  Pudding!

Passing up fruits and veggies for an afternoon snack, Kevin grabs a chocolate pudding and heads out the door. His adventure begins as he opens up his pudding cup and watches it spring to life! Find out if Kevin and his spoon are fast enough to catch his quick snack!

Mary Jean Kelso       The Christmas Angel

Melissa is a young girl who moves with her family to Oregon via The Oregon Trail. She has been allowed to bring one prized possession and she struggles to see that the porcelain angel that has topped the family Christmas tree makes the journey safely. This adventure on the Oregon Trail has added educational tools including a map, lists of supplies, info on the trail, links to sites and games about the Oregon trail. Five extra pages of activities.

Donna McDine     Hockey Agony

Peer Pressure and Honesty many times go hand-in-hand. What is Larry to do when his teammate asks him to cheat when he is given the responsibility to run the clock during the big hockey game? Outwardly, it may seem he will follow suit, but his conscious tells him otherwise at the moment of truth.

Mary Esparza Vela 

A tiny burro shows up at a little boy’s house and becomes a real asset to the family. The day he disappears, they never expect to see him again until he prances in one dark spooky night.  Ms. Vela's books are written in Spanish as well as English.

 

Colleen L. Reece         God Loves You Whoever You Are

Young or old, big or small, fat or thin, God loves each of us. We may have blue eyes, or brown eyes, gold, green or grey. Our skin may be colored any shade. God loves  us.

 

Cynthia Reeg     Gifts from God 

Gifts from God celebrates God’s loving gifts to each child. Glorious color photographs highlighting children and nature accompany each gift. Every double-page spread has an easy reader sentence on the right and a scripture quotation on the left making this an enjoyable and uplifting book for both children and adults.

 Kristen Zajek       Ebeneezer's Cousin

Maria Jimenez and her dad share many things including a passion for going to see the monkeys at their local primate sanctuary.  But when Maria’s father returns home from military service with an injury, how will she find a way to help him recapture his spirit and independence?

 

Review of Children's Book, Signs of Trouble, by Janet Ann Collins

Did you ever lose a child in a mall?  I did.  In London.  And he was seven years old.  It’s something one never forgets, even if the ending is a happy one as in our case.

Signs of Trouble by Janet Ann Collins deals with that very situation with a twist. Two children from Miss Rose’s Special Education class get lost, and neither of them is good at directions.  But Kim and Amy persevere with a bit of help from a guard, and all is well in the end.

This book speaks to an issue that affects many school children in a sensitive and realistic manner.  In fact, the girls quarrel a little between them which makes the story believable for children and adults.  There is frustration and fear when one gets lost, and Ms. Collins addresses this in an honest way.

In the end, all is not lost, and the girls have done most everything correctly to find the way back to their classmstes.  They are winners in spite of and because of tackling a problem and following through with a positive action.

Signs of Trouble, then, is a heartening and enriching tale for Special Ed kids and for those who are not.  A good lesson is to be learned between the covers of this lovely book, and I recommend it without reservation. 

An added bonus is the lively artwork by Jack Foster.  The kids spring off the pages and add a resonance to the book as a whole.

 Signs of Trouble can be found at Amazon.com, Guardian Angel Publishing, Barnes & Noble.com.

One Pelican at a Time is Pelican is Reviewed on On Words Blog

Another interview today, Britt.  We're at a good blog, On Words.  This is a blog that loves and features kids!  (Pelicans, too, of course.)

I know.  Saw it in the paper. 

We'd better tell Mr. Pelican.  He pretends he can read, but he actually can't.

Yeah, but don't say anything, Bella.  It hurts his feelings.

Let's go tell him, so he can get prepared.  You know Mr. Pelican.  Never lets a good review go to waste!