Flower Craft + Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Before we get started
with the kid activity portion of this post, I thought I would share a little
bit about me so you know why participating in the MCCBD was important to me. When
I was younger I remember my mom telling me I was adopted from Korea, but it
didn’t have any effect on me, it was just a term used to describe how we became
a family. I didn’t realize that this meant I looked different from my parents
(who are Caucasian). I can clearly remember when I became aware of cultural
differences. On the school bus a boy simply asked me, “Why are your eyes
different?” I don’t even know if he was intending to be unpleasant, but I
didn’t know how to answer and I was extremely shy so my only response was to
start crying. I had never considered that my eyes were different. I remember
thinking, “Why does he think my eyes are different?” and “Is
different a bad thing?” 

“It is my hope that by increasing children’s
exposure to diversity through books, no child will ever have to ask, “Why
are your eyes, skin, hair… different?” and cause another child to wonder about themselves, “Is
looking different a bad thing?” 

I have included more information on how you can help celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day at the end of this post. Let’s increase multicultural awareness together, one book at a time! 🙂

Aloha for Carol Ann by Margo Sorenson 

I received a free copy of this book for MCCBD 2015. I was not compensated in any way for this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. 

In the story, Carol
Ann moves to Hawaii and is hesitant to accept the changes her new environment
presents. Throughout the day she realizes that even though her new classmates
and their traditions are different, being a good friend is still the same no matter where you are.
 

My daughter loved all
the colorful pictures full of smiling faces. She was able to pick out
characters to represent her, her brother, and all her friends who are all
different ethnicities. This book is fun to read, and works perfectly to discuss diversity, school, friendship, and transitions. 

Supplies:

Flower stencil (You can make one out of cardboard, or use a cookie cutter)

Craft paper

Paint, markers, or crayons

Paint brush

Directions:

To prep the activity: Trace 5 flowers on a piece of paper and color them all gray or another dull color. 

1.  Have child trace out 5 flowers on their paper and instruct them to make each flower a different color.