#MCBD: Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers & Revolutionaries Who Changed the World Through Writing by Rochelle Melander, illustrated by Melina Ontiveros

 

Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers & Revolutionaries

Who Changed the World Through Writing

by Rochelle Melander, illustrated by Melina Ontiveros

Beaming Books, 2021, 200 pages

I was in junior high school when my social studies teacher wrote the adage "the pen is mightier than the sword" on the blackboard and asked us to write down our thoughts about what this saying means. It is a quote that has stuck with me ever since and one which I believe to be true. So when I received this book to review for Multicultural Children's Book Day, I was delighted. 

In this collection of 40 short biographies, Rochelle Melander explores the writings of diverse people from different periods of time throughout history and for different reasons. Each person was chosen for their unique contribution to the world through their writing in a wide variety of areas, from, for example, science, politics, women's rights, activism, and environmentalism.  And much to her credit, Melander includes not just white male writers, but a wide variety of women, writers of color, transgender writers, and writers who are just not usually included in anthologies. 

Some of the 40 writers included will be very familiar to readers, some names may be known but not what they did, and others will be completely new to the readers. Each entry, then,  begins with a short biography including what the writer is most known for and their reason/motivation for writing. At the end of each biography are writing prompts for the reader, making this a nicely interactive book. Beginning with Write to Know - where kids can explore their own creativity; Write Now - kids can relate the writing of each historical person to their world today; Write to Create - encourages kids to create their own work similar to the person's whose bio they have just read.

Each biography includes insets of other writers who impacted the world in much the same way, so ultimately, readers learn even more about courageous authors. Although, Mightier Than the Sword begins with Japanese novelist Murasaki Shikibyu, born in 978 and who, despite being a girl, learned to read and write, and is the author of The Tale of Genji, this book has an amazingly contemporary feel to it. Readers will also find biographies of some of todays favorite writers like cartoonish/graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang (1973-), rapper/activist Sonita Alizadeh (1996-), and Sophie Cruz (2010-)

This is a book that should be in every school library, classroom and home library. It is informative, concise, and very accessible. And at a time when it seems like many people want to resolve issues through physical confrontation, Mightier Than the Sword reminds us of the incredible power of the pen.

If you are truly looking to #ReadTourWorld, Mightier Than the Sword is the book for you. 

You can also download a very useful Activity Kit for Mightier Than the Sword HERE

Thank you to Rochelle Melander for providing me with a copy of this book.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9^th 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

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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

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FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit

FREE Teacher Classroom Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit

Gallery of Our Free Posters

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.