We’d like to take a bit of time out to introduce you to a young company that has made it their mission to share world cultures in a way that is truly respectful and inspiring. Our review of one of their books that we love is below!
HARTLYN BOOKS – A PASSPORT TO GREAT MULTICULTURAL BOOKS!
Wouldn’t it be great if the children’s book market had more books representing a variety of cultures, religions and languages?
Wouldn’t it be great if those books were written by authors from the represented countries?
And wouldn’t it be even better if the books encouraged a love for international travel?
These were some questions that the co-owners and founders of Hartlyn Kids considered when thinking through a business idea – a series of illustrated children’s books that they would love for their own children to read. Instead of waiting for the idea to eventually hit the scene, in May 2010, Hartlyn Kids was incorporated and in August 2011, we released our first children’s book.
Hartlyn Kids is an independent multicultural children’s book publishing company that features a story about the day in the life of a child from around the world. Each book is written by authors local to the countries that are being represented in the book in order to give a true and authentic sense of the culture. By showing the day in the life of a child, we hope that children will see, that no matter where they are from, we all pretty much share the same fears and hopes and dreams. Presently there are two trips in our series, a “trip” to the Philippines and a “trip” to India. Each book comes ready and with a free passport stamp which can be placed in our Hartlyn Kids passport! Children can really enjoy their travels through reading.
The Hartlyn Kids team is often asked what inspired them to start their business and it is their children! They want their children to live in a world that is not blind to color and difference but rather one that is tolerant and embraces the beauty and intrigue of other cultures.
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
- Maya Angelou
Bio: Aisha and Christine are co-owners of Hartlyn Kids. Cultural awareness tolerance and children’s literacy are their passions.
To learn more about their company please feel free to visit our website www.HartlynKids.com. On the site you can purchase books and passports or gift certificates, download our newly created lesson plans that correspond to each book or see how you can earn money by becoming a Hartlyn Kids Affiliate simply by spreading the word about our company.
The Bamboo Dance
Written By Cress Sia, Illustrated By Lisa Butler
How exciting to take a trip to the Philippines!
In Hartlyn Kid’s new release; The Bamboo Dance, readers can visit a schoolyard in this country and meet two good friends, Paco and Diego. It’s an exciting time as many of the children are learning to do a special dance with bamboo poles called the tinikling. It’s fun to watch and participate in, but requires fancy footwork in order to not get your feet stuck as the bamboo poles tap on the ground and then click together.
Paco is very good at the tinikling dance right away, but Diego finds it a bit more difficult. In fact, he’s almost ready to give up trying. Will his friend let him feel defeated, or can Paco find a way to help him succeed so they can both enjoy their new skill together?
The answer is in this beautifully illustrated, collage-style book that also shares many details of everyday life and fun in the Philippines. Pick up this beautiful book to learn about friendship, fun, encouragement and a really exciting dance tradition called tinikling.
Purchase from Hartlyn Books:
http://www.hartlynkids.com/Philippines-Story-The-Bamboo-Dance-p/book1.htm
