Mr Grizley's Class Series - Bryan Patrick Avery
#ReadYourWorld
I can’t tell you how important it is for me for my children to feel like they identify with characters in a book, that they SEE themselves in a character, whether it be via the words or the illustrations, or both together. When I handed the four books in the Mr Grizley’s Class series to my daughters, the first things I heard them say were “Cecelia looks like me!!” and “Emily looks like me!!!!”.
This series, written by Bryan Patrick Avery, illustrated by Arief Putra, and published by Capstone, was given to me in return for an honest review for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. You can find out more information on this awesome celebration of multicultural children’s books right below my review.
My kids are now 7, 6, and 4, and while my 7 and 6 year olds both read pretty well, they still love me to read to them. The books in Mr Grizley’s Class series are perfect for both quiet reading time and story time together. At the end of each book there is a fun activity to do alone or with others, a glossary with some of the harder words, and questions to help kids discuss what they have just read, and find ways to talk about how the story relates to their own lives. These questions are great conversation starters as the books bring up important themes of inclusivity, friendship, helping others, anxiety, working together as a team and so on.
Each book starts with a class photo page, with Mr Grizley and all of his students. Mr Grizley’s class is as diverse as my children’s classes, and reflects real life - even the names are researched correctly. And it doesn’t stop there, Bryan Patrick Avery has also made sure to include disability inclusion. Mr Grizley’s class represents the real world that our children live in, and this is just so important - any child between the ages 4-8 will be able to recognize something about themselves in these books.
Mr Grizley is a patient and kind teacher who lovingly guides his students, helping them to learn, accept, grow, and discover every day. In Shaw’s Solo, Shaw’s friends help him find ways to combat his anxiety. In Mordecai’s Magic, new boy Mordecai shows how his unique talent can bring a whole school together. In Emily’s Big Shot, Emily learns with the help of her friends that if she relaxes and practices she can play a sport that she thought she couldn’t. And finally, in Cecelia’s Fundraiser, Cecelia and her classmates work together to figure out how they can save the school fundraiser.
I can’t recommend these books enough - they are sweet, educational, fun, and every single child will relate to something in them. I would love to see more of Mr Grizley and his class and see what else they can teach us!
(We had loads of fun doing the activities at the back of each book - some great bonding ideas for families and classrooms in there!).
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th 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 books into the hands of young readers and educators.
MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
SUPER PLATINUM: Make A Way Media
PLATINUM: Language Lizard
GOLD: Barefoot Books, KidLitTV, Candlewick, Capstone, Abrams Books
SILVER: Pack-n-Go Girls, Charlotte Riggle, Kimberly Gordon Biddle
BRONZE: Carole P. Roman, Patrice McLaurin, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Redfin Mortgage, Redfin/Title Forward, Create & Educate, Star Bright Books, Vivian Kirkfield, Dr. Eleanor Wint, Kind World Publishing, Snowflake Stories, Lisa Wee, SONGJU MA, Melissa Stoller, J.C. Kato and J.C.², Crystel Patterson, Audrey Press, Pragmaticmom, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales
MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Charlene Mosley (official MCBD2022 Poster Creator)
Illustrator Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)
Alva Sachs, Brianna Carter, Ebony Zay Zay, Rita Bhandari, Gwen Jackson, Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted Mermaids, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Josh Funk, Afsaneh Moradian, Eugenia Chu, Maritza Martínez Mejía, Diana Huang, Kathleen Burkinshaw, CultureGroove, Sandra Elaine Scott, Dorena Williamson, Veronica Appleton, Alejandra Domenzain, Lauren Muskovitz and Sandfish Publishing, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kimberly Lee, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Nancy Tupper Ling, Winsome Hudson-Bingham, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Sivan Hong, Michael Genhart, Debbie Dadey, Elizabeth Cureton, Stephanie Wildman, Maryann Jacob, Sherri Maret, Rochelle Melander, Dia Mixon, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young, Shereen Rahming, Linda Thornburg and Katherine Archer, Rebecca Flansburg and BA Norrgard , Maxine Schur Natalie McDonald-Perkins
MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
Check out MCBD's Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
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 Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!
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.