Book review: ''Jamie and Bubbie: A Book About People's Pronouns'' by Afsaneh Moradian
I don’t necessarily like adding titles or tags to books but it is not very often one comes across a book that has such a strong educational character, value and approach. Afsaneh’s Moradian ‘’Jamie and Bubbie: A book About People’s Pronouns’’ that was released in October 2020 from Free Spirit Publishing focuses on pronouns as an extension of our identity. Afsaneh says in her notes at the end of the book ‘’Our pronouns can be an extension of our gender identity (our internal feeling of being male, female, both or neither), but they are also about more than gender. They are a reflection and an extension of who we are in the world at the moment’’.
Jamie is very excited that his grandma Bubbie is visiting them today and since the weather is lovely they decide to go for a walk in the neighbourhood. During their walk Bubbie makes one gaffe after the other, referring to Ms Wallace as he, to the waiter as she and Alexandra as a he. Jamie patiently and kindly tries to explain to his grandma that we should call people by their name and the pronouns they want to be called.
I am London’s global cohost for the amazing Multicultural Children’s book day and I was lucky to be gifted with many great books that celebrate diversity and promote reading #ReadYourWorld .
I have a great respect for passionate people who try to make a difference through their work. I do not personally know Afsaneh but that comes across after reading her book, and getting to know a little about more her background as a teacher. ‘’Jamie and Bubbie: A book about People’s Pronouns is her second book, after her ‘Jamie is Jamie’ that was originally written for her daughter in an effort to challenge stereotypes and to encourage children to make play choices based on their interests.
This story can provide a great learning opportunity not just for children but for educators and parents alike as it makes you reflect on your own gender assumptions and sterotypes when referring to one person. At the end of the book Afsaneh has included Tips for teachers and parents and ideas for lovely activities that will promote children’s understanding of pronouns and encourage them to express their ideas about gender.
You can also find articles and teaching ideas in Afsaneh's website here
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)
Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls
Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Poster Artist: Nat Iwata
Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids, Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club, Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
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FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party! This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas. We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. ** Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter! Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
Evi Marami is a qualified educator, writer, busy mum and author of the new children’s story 'A shy little cat'. With over a decade of teaching experience Evi uses her writing to build positive identities through a sensitive and humoristic (or so she thinks!) approach. In her first bilingual, interactive book, Bongo the dinosaur – Bongo ο δεινόσαυρος, the kind dinosaur with the very unique name wins everyone over with his generosity and becomes their friend, in a story that celebrates diversity, friendship and teamwork deep in the roaring jungle. Now Evi’s Shy little cat is called to overcome her fears and discover herself and the world in a colourful and exciting rhyming adventure that promises to keep the young (and older) readers engaged till the last page.
