Her name is Talisha... but everyone call her Snow White [Multicultural Children's Book Day]

Mirror, mirror on the wall! Who is the fairest one of all?

When you have been raised with fairy tales written by the Grimm's brothers as bedtime stories, it's a sentence you have heard quite a few times... It comes from one of the most reknown of them: Snow White. Many adaptations can be found in the litterature, or as movies, TV shows, or paintings...

Today, I have the great pleasure to review a book adaptation with an african twist that one singer I like would love to share with his children. (Mr Alex Boye', you have to read this book to your daughters!)

Talisha Snow White & her little munchkins

From Nubitales.com

I received a digital copy of this colorful book written by Aphrodyi Antoine and illustrated by Eloy Claudio and as soon as I started to read it, I wanted to understand all the references the author made to different African cultures. 

I don't know much about Africa's history and culture (even if I went to college to study History...) and the pages at the end of the tales, explaining some words and sharing games for the young readers, made me want to learn more. Although it's a book written for children, any adult (may it be parents, teachers, librarians, educators, etc) can feel the spirit of curiosity coming from the story.

My children don't speak English, so I had to read it first in English and then translate for them in French. It was not the first time for me to do it, and the kids like to hear my voice change from my English tone of voice to my French one. Yeah, I kinda have different way of speaking depending on the language. But that's not the subject for today... or is it not?

In fact, Aphrodyi Antoine laced her tale with African names and words from different languages - for example: Talisha, Thema, Yeka -, cultural references like the Apple and Spice Cake (makes me hungry everytime I read the lexicon) and a good dose of talent. Her take on the Brothers Grimm' story is a bit like listening to a Griot. (If you don't know what a griot is, check this informative and educative post.) I had to adapt my voice and pronunciation to these foreign words. And of course my three and a half years olf daughter asked me "What is this word? / C'est quoi ce mot?" each time... The lexicon had been a great help!!! 

What made me like even more the story - and my kids 100% agreed - is the quality of the drawings and the way the text and the pictures are displayed. We love "comics" as a family - especially the bandes-dessinées we have in Europe- and Talisha Snow White reminds me of one. The text and the pictures work together to bring life to the story of Talisha and the numerous cultural references to Africa.

You can purchase it on amazon.

When you will have read the book, you will understand that the story plot of Snow White has changed quite a bit. If Talisha is fair and kind, she doesn't need a Prince to release her from an evil sorceress. Her family will suffice, thank you very much. No love after just a gaze, but loving and everlasting family bonds. Bonds that are not from blood, but from adoption, acceptation and love.

Many children can see themselves in this story as one of the munchkins, and adults will be thrilled to play the part of Talisha's protective adoptive parents. With just the right dose of magic and African background, this new adaptation of the Snow White's tale will help children to be more curious of other cultures and also to be more confident in the loving family bonds they can have with adoptive parents and siblings. 

Welcome to Multicultural Children's Book Day!

The MCCBD team’s mission is to spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in children’s literature. Our young readers need to see themselves and experience other cultures, languages, traditions and religions within the pages of a book. We encourage readers, parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians to follow along the fun book reviews, author visits, event details, the multicultural children’s book linky (see on one of the co-host link) and via our hashtag (#ReadYourWorld) on Twitter and other social medias.

The co-creators of this event are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. You can find a biography for these two bookworms / women here.

To help them promote and amplify the event, 

they have asked some multicultural bloggers to be co-hosts of this year's event:

All Done Monkey, 

Crafty Moms Share, 

Educators Spin on it, 

Growing Book by Book, 

Imagination Soup, 

I’m Not the Nanny, 

InCultural Parent, 

Kid World Citizen, 

Mama Smiles, 

Multicultural Kid Blogs, 

Spanish Playground

And of course this event wouldn't be possible with the sponsors who gave each reviewer one book. So thanks to them!

Platinum Sponsors: Story Quest Books.Wisdom Tales Press, Lil’ Libros. 

Gold Sponsors: Candlewick Press, Tori Nighthawk: Don’t Judge A Bird By its Feathers. Bharat Babies

Silver Sponsors:Lee & Low Books, Chronicle Books, Capstone Young Readers, China Institute.org, Tuttle Publishing. NY Media Works, LLC/KidLit TV

Bronze Sponsors: Jacqueline Woodson, Pomelo Books, Papa Lemon Books, Goosebottom Books LLC, Author Gleeson Rebello, M.D ., Shout Mouse Press, Mahvash Shahegh. LiveOak Media