Spotlight Review for Read Your World 2026

I’m happy to once again be a book reviewer on Read Your World/Multicultural Children’s Book Day! As part of this annual event, I was gifted a book to review, in order to provide my honest opinion. Read on to discover more. #ReadYourWorld #IDiscoverWorldMusic #PirouetteKids

I Discover World Music

Part of the I Discover Music Series of Books

from Pirouette Kids

Babies, toddlers, and even kiddos in early elementary school love interactive books, especially ones that offer something new. Pirouette Kids’ I Discover Music series of nicely-sized board books offer just that, with each featuring real music in a particular genre, including Folk, Blues, Classical, and Music From Around the World.

With bright and fun illustrations, an easy to access and press button on each spread (as well as an on/off button on the back of the book), durable construction, and music beyond the usual nursery rhymes found in many board books, this series is delightful. It’s also designed to help the youngest book lovers learn by enhancing memory and speech skills as well as pattern recognition, promoting fine motor development, encouraging active focus and listening, and offering a way to discover new sounds and cultures through new styles of music.

In the I Discover World Music book, the six songs included are La Cucaracha (Mexico), Here Come the Mothers (South Africa), Tumbalalaika (Eastern Europe), Tico Tico No Fuba (Brazil), Tingalayo (Jamaica), and La Vie en Rose (France). Each fifteen second clip is interpreted/sung in the style and spirit of that country, with words for each song shown on that spread for easy family sing-alongs. Artwork by Margarita Fomenko also reflects each song and country. In addition, a QR code is provided on the back of the book, allowing parent and child to go online to listen to the full songs.

Whether you choose one of the books in this series, or all four, these are nice additions to family, school, or public libraries for ages 6 months to 4 years. More information on the books as well as the benefits of music and reading for children can be found at the publisher’s website: http://www.pirouettekids.com.

Read Your World is in its 14th year! Read Your World was formerly known as Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Multicultural Children’s Book Day is still celebrated at the end of January but is now more than just a one-day holiday to celebrate diverse KidLit.

Read Your World is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness about children’s books that celebrate diversity and inclusion, and to get more of these books into the hands of readers.

For more information, visit https://readyourworld.org/about/

Spotlight Review for Read Your World 2025

I’m happy to once again be a book reviewer on Read Your World/Multicultural Children’s Book Day! As part of this annual event, I was gifted a book to review, in order to provide my honest opinion. Read on to discover more.  #ReadYourWorld #miawenjen #victorbizargomez

We Sing from the Heart: How The Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

Written by Mia Wenjen

Illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez

Published by Red Comet Press

This award-winning book for eight to twelve year-olds—an inspiring look at Simon Tam’s groundbreaking efforts against institutionalized discrimination, appropriation, and suppression of free speech—feels both urgent and necessary in today’s world.

Growing up, Simon Tam, like many Americans of non-white heritage, felt the sting and betrayal of racism in his daily life. So when, as a young man, Tam and his rock band of fellow Asian Americans were looking for a name, they decided to reclaim a derogatory term they’d heard many times, settling on The Slants. When they discovered another band consisting of non-Asians were also using that name, Tam decided to register for a trademark to protect their rights. However, the U.S. government rejected his request, labeling the band’s name racist, even though they approved trademarks for non-Asians who used similarly racist terms.

Seeing the unfairness and systemic racism involved in this decision, Tam took his battle to court. For eight years, he and others who agreed with him worked the case through the legal system, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, encouraging and inspiring others along the way. Finally, in 2017, the Court unanimously agreed with Tam and his bandmates. The Slants® continued creating music until 2019, when they created a non-profit organization to “provide mentorship and scholarships for Asian American artists who want to incorporate activism into their work.”

We Sing from the Heart is told in a compelling yet straightforward way by Mia Wenjen (easy-to-follow text is interwoven with direct quotes, plus short sidebars offer definitions), and is illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez in a fresh graphic style with muted colors, incorporating song lyrics from the band’s anthem From the Heart into the design. This picture book for older readers also features front and back matter: a foreword by Tam about why stories matter kick things off, while notes from both the author and Tam, more information on The Slants®, a timeline of other Asian Americans who have fought against racism since the mid-1800’s, sources, and song lyrics for From the Heart round things out.

This is a strong and important addition to every library and classroom.

Read Your World 2025 (1/30/25) is in its 13^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 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:

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 and  Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages 

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Third State Books 

🏅 Silver Sponsors: The Quarto Group, Red Comet Press and Lerner Books 

🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor:  Scholastic Books 

🏅 Bronze Sponsors:  Lee and Low and Star Bright Books

🏅 Bronze Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education 

🏅 Ruby Corporate Sponsor: MagicBlox

Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Stephanie M. Wildman, Martha Seif Simpson, Anna Jennings, Gwen Jackson, Afsaneh Moradian, Joaquín Camp, Rahana Dariah, Ziggy Hanaor, Josh Funk, Nancy Tupper Ling, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Gea Meijering, Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Story Time, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Cynthia Levinson, Diana Huang, Rochelle Melander,  Lisa Chong, Lisa Stringfellow,  Brunella Costaglioga, Lindsey Rowe Parker, Rachel C. Katz, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Shifa Safadi, Lisa Rogers, Sylvia Liu, Eva Clarke, Crystal Murakami, Teddi Ahrens

Read Your World is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts and by our Partner Organizations! 

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