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?

 

Lucky's Lick by Mary Esparza-Vela: A Story of Hope

To all children who have been hurt in accidents. 

Never have I begun a book review with the dedication, but I've made an exception this time.  In her dedication, Mary Esparza-Vela author of Lucky's Lick, says it all.

Juanito, a seven year old boy has two new teeth and a desire to explore and have fun in his world.  He has lots of friends and parents who love him.  Juanito is a normal little boy with one exception.  He has been confined to a wheelchair for the past six months. 

While riding his bike, a car struck him, and he suffered a spinal cord injury, one the doctors are not sure will heal.  "Only time will tell if he walks again," the doctors explained to his mom and  dad.  And to Juanito.

While it is not an "everychild" book, enough children are hurt in accidents of all manner across the world, Lucky's Lick is a book aimed to help.  It succeeds.

Ms. Esparza-Vela's book is loaded with sympathy for Juanito, but more importantly, is is brimming over with hope, if not for a recovery then hope that life still has so much to offer.  That kids can overcome and be happy again.  And that maybe reaching outside of themselves, in this case with a new puppy, wonderful things may happen!

I would heartily recommend this hopeful book to children and parents alike.  Life and hope are reflected in the bright colors and busy illustrations by Denis Proulx   They are a perfect foil for the anticipation of a life well lived, no matter the circumstance.

A bit about the author: 

Ms. Esparza-Vela is an award-winning author who lives in Texas with her husband and three sons.  Previously, she worked as an Editorial Assistant in a publications office where her contributions led to monetary awards and selection as Civilian of the Year.  She has written articles for religious publications and has won several online writing contests.  A number of her children's stories were selected for publication by Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.


Ms. Esparza-Vela can be found at:

Web Site:  www.marysdollsandbooks.com

GAP:  http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/luckys-lick.htm

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/191-2598472-0003243?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mary%20esparza-vela

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/mary-esparza-vela?store=allproducts&keyword=mary+esparza-vela

 

You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home With You by Mary Esparza-Vela

On a distant planet, far, far away, lived three young space tots named Kyzzie, the older sister, Sweetz, her middle brother, and Hunee, the baby.

So begins the new children's picture book You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home by Mary Esparza-Vela. The book is published by Guardian Angel Publishing. 

 Even on a different planet in an unknown galaxy, parental and sibling problems are surprisingly the same as here on earth.

Sister and brother are plagued by their baby brother, but he "gave them a hard time.  He liked to wander off on his own and throw temper tantrums when he didn’t get his way."

 If this sounds familiar to you, it's not surprising. Little ones being what they are, cause the same problems whichever planet they inhabit!

To compound things, enter a dinosaur. All manner of problems occur, with baby brother right in the middle of it. 

A darling story, this would be terrific for all your junior space cadets out there.  It is a whimsical tale of life set in outer space but with all the elements of home and family.  


The characters are offered as dolls as well, a great addition to your kids' space needs!

Author Mary Esparza-Vela lives in San Antonio.    Her dream has always been to write for children. She has several books published with Guardian Angel Publishing.  Other writing credits include articles published in Catholic newspapers and a winning entry in a Writer's Digest Competition.  Mary has won a Reader's Favorite Award for Dinosaur.  

**And here is an update!  Mary has just been told by Creative Child Magazine that Dinosaur has won a 2013 Book of the Year Award!  Hearty Congratulations!  More reason for you to run and pick up a copy of You Can't Take the Dinosaur Home With You!
 
Mary's website is: http://luv-beams.com/

The site lists her available books.