Blazing Brilliance

As a former English teacher and librarian, book talks were a staple in my classroom and library. I used to post my book talks and reviews on my educatorbarnes.com. Now, I am shifting them to my business page because we receive many book recommendation requests at Blazing Brilliance. For the book talks and book reviews I have on my personal website/portfolio, I will shift them to this page and categorize them for easy use.

*I received a free copy of Old to Joy in exchange for offering an honest review for the Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024.*

The first sentence of Old to Joy is, “Joy’s Grandmama lived in an old house, on an old street, with old trees, and all kinds of old things.” In the author’s note at the back of the book, author and illustrator Anita Crawford Clark noted that she had written a version of that sentence in 1998. Years later, it grew into this book.

In the first sentence, Crawford Clark said, “Grandmama” and not “Grandma.” This may seem like a minuscule detail, but Grandmama is a term that can be heard in Black American families. This isn’t to say Black Americans don’t use Grandma, but this detail immediately took me years back. I found myself as an eager girl waiting in anticipation for the story to unfold.

Readers, young and old, will be able to relate to the frustration Joy feels about all the old stuff and old ways of Grandmama. At one point, Joy questions why her Grandmama was washing dishes by hand and not using a dishwasher. At another point, Joy questioned why Grandmama would shell peas instead of purchasing a can from the store.

All the details reminded me of Grandmamas and Grandpapas I knew growing up.

Not only did Crawford Clark write the book, but she also drew the illustrations. They were breathtaking. To give the reader the full experience of tall trees, there is a full page spread where the reader must turn the book. Also, there is an illustration where Joy and Grandmama are walking up the stairs. This is drawn in an overhead view to show that the staircase is a spiral staircase.

From the author’s use of alliteration and rhyme sprinkled throughout the text to the joyful experiences included to the wonderful illustrations, I highly recommend this book.

Old to Joy is a reminder that intergenerational relationships matter and are important.

Rating 5/5

Recommended Grades	Preschool – 2
Recommended Ages	4-8

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11^th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films 

Ruby Sponsor: Crayola 

Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess 

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books 

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

• MCBD 2024 Poster
• Mental Health Support for Stressful Times Classroom Kit
• 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
• Gallery of Our Free Posters
• FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children’s Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here. 

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians.