The Big Buna Bash has been blessed with some great reviews from parenting blogs. Here are a few of them:
all-our-colors.com/multicultural-childrens-book-day/ booktrib.com/2020/02/building-bridges-with-coffee-in-the-big-buna-bash/?fbclid=IwAR1dlpdWHRo3wEO6QwltNnprXIJryBrChDHBdCSeesbmopy9VDXvTWQtKc0 www.justabxmom.com/2020/02/24/february-bookshelf/ purposefulmommy.com/big-buna-bash/ https://parentinghealthy.com/the-big-buna-bash-childrens-book-celebrates-an-ethiopian-tradition/ www.instagram.com/p/B9Va8daAWxp/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B8iVEn0gxKm/ christyscozycorners.com/2020/02/buna-bash-childrens-book-Arnold//
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It is with a grateful heart that I say this! After two weeks of pneumonia, I got back on my feet only a couple days before The Big Buna Bash Launch Party at Letena Restaurant. That same week we did two more book events at Potter's House and Ethiopic Restaurant. After event week, I appeared at two story times; one at East City Bookstore in D.C. and the other at Loyalty Bookstore in Silver Spring, Maryland. I met SO many lovely people and want to thank the D.C. area Ethiopian community for their generous welcome! One week from today, on February 5th, I'll be launching my new diverse children's book, The Big Buna Bash. I can't wait for you to meet Almaz!
Kids notice differences. As the world becomes increasingly small, it is essential to show children that it feels good to value the things that make a person different.
I once heard of an extremely creative activity that a 1st grade teacher did with her class. She asked parents to send a tiny piece of hair from each of her students. The teacher pasted each one on an index card and put them in a box. Then the kids drew them out, one by one, and discussed the differences. What color was it? Was it straight or curly? Coarse or fine? That little exercise speaks loudly…. "It's fun to explore differences!" Research shows that after age 9, racial attitudes tend to stay the same unless there is a life-changing experience. The more awareness of different groups of people leads to greater acceptance, and prevents ethnic stereotypes. We need to allow children to see outside of their own little worlds! Here's a few ideas to help open up new worlds for your child and start a great discussion: 1. Learn about traditional celebrations from other cultures 2. Listen/sing/dance to music of a different culture 3. Read a story or see a movie from another country 4. Eat food from other cultures 5. Visit a cultural museum 6. Look at the atlas 7. Create art using techniques from another culture 8. Visit a place of worship that is different from yours These activities can help kids visualize how other people live, cultivating cultural understanding. Don't forget to talk about what was experienced and how they felt afterwards! to edit. If you can't decide between coffee or tea...… Yuenyeung is your answer! Originating in Hong Kong, this drink was originally a mixture of three parts coffee and seven parts milk tea! Here is the version that I tried: Bring 3 cups water to a boil and add 5 black tea bags (I used flavored tea) Simmer 3 minutes and stir in a 12 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk (I used regular milk and added Splenda) Simmer another 3 minutes and stir in 3 cups strong coffee Add sugar to taste……..serve hot or cold! chī hǎo hē hǎo” 吃好喝好 Drink up! . Coffee drinking is a universal pastime! In my next few posts I'm going to share some interesting coffee recipes from around the world.....starting with an extravagant Swedish combination of coffee and cheese called Kaffeost. The Swedes love their coffee breaks, and are surpassed only by Finland and the Netherlands in coffee consumption. One of my grandmothers was Swedish, so this amazing country is close to my heart. I have been fortunate to visit Sweden twice! Kaffeost The name of this unique coffee means 'coffee and cheese'. It is often prepared in Northern Sweden and Finland, originating from the Swedish Laplands. Simply pour hot black coffee over cheese cubes, or dip the cheese cubes into the hot coffee with a spoon. The cheese used in Sweden is leipäjuusto, also called “bread cheese” or Finnish squeaky cheese. It is made mainly from cow’s milk, but in some cases also from sheep’s milk or reindeer’s milk. It's taste is neutral and delicate. Kaffeost is served in birch wood cups as a sign of hospitality. Välkommen ! What is it?
A day that celebrates the unique tradition of the Ethiopian buna (coffee) ceremony Why? Because buna brings people together! How to observe it? Drink Ethiopian buna!! "Every book is not for every child, but for every child there is a book."
Bianca Schulze The holiday season is upon us and books can be great Christmas/ Hannuka gifts for children everywhere! When you give a child a book, you're giving him the opportunity to get acquainted with different people and places, You are helping expand his vocabulary and stimulating his imagination. We choose books that match the child's learning and interest levels. Books can only educate, nurture, and entertain kids if they are age appropriate. For younger children, books can be used to learn basic concepts like letters and colors, or just for fun! For elementary students, a book should improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Will they understand what they're reading? Do they know most of the words? Will the book interest them? Will they want to read it? Remember.....the younger the child is, the more connected the book should be to his life! Being the author of a diverse children's book, I love books that celebrate differences. Here are some gift suggestions of fun books with a deep message, AGES: 0-3 Dream Big Little One by Vashi Harrison This is a very positive board book with beautiful illustrations and a clear message. It introduces inspirational black women who have made history. AGES: Pre-school and up Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung This book is fun. It has bright colors and a straightforward approach to confronting discrimination and celebrating acceptance for differences. It's suitable for 4-5 year olds but older children will enjoy it too. AGES: 5-8 The Big Buna Bash by Sara Arnold This little story is sweet and non-threatening. Almaz, an Ethiopian/American first-grader, finds a way to make friends using her cultural traditions. The Big Buna Bash is about the healing that occurs when there is understanding! AGES: 9-11 Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Six kids meet up for a weekly chat and during the bonding process find courage and mutual growth. Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. All these books can be found on Amazon www.amazon.com/books HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY READING!! Here it is...my long-awaited book trailer! I hope you like it as much as I do.. please share with your friends..... |
AuthorI had so much fun writing The Big Buna Bash, and I want to share it to inspire cultural pride in kids who might feel like they don't fit in because of their differences. I believe in diversity and inclusion; that's why I wrote The Big Buna Bash! Archives
November 2020
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