Gender Now Activity Book:School Edition is coming….OUT! (and we want the world to know)
"an indispensable tool in our work to create more gender inclusive and accepting schools"
-Joel Baum, Director, Education and Training, Gender Spectrum
This October 11th celebrate National Coming Out Day with the release of our newest book:
Gender Now Activity Book: School Edition 
Our new activity book contains all the great info from the original coloring book adapted for the public school environment. Meet the Gender Team and learn that there are many ways to feel on the inside no matter what body you have on the outside through stories from nature, history, and different cultures. Did you know that clown fish can change their bodies from boy to girl? Or that in some countries they know there’s not just boys and girls? The Bugis of Indonesia have 5 genders!
Read more or view inside>>>
And, in case you need a little background music while you’re perusing the pages, here’s a classic by Diana Ross:
Filed under Events, General, LGBTQI Families | Tags: acceptance, book release, empowerment, family, fun, gender, GENDER NOW, lgbt | Comment (0)The Power of Claiming Face
In August Maya did a CLAIMING FACE Educator Training through the Arts Council for Monterey County. The participants were bursting with creative energy and passion. After the class, we received this wonderful quote from one of the participants that reminded us why we do this work.
Filed under CLAIMING FACE, Events, Maya in the Classroom | Tags: CLAIMING FACE, creative process, creativity, educators, empowerment, review | Comment (0)I want to extend my deepest appreciation for the training class with Maya Christina Gonzalez. It was just a wonderful experience for me as a mother, artist and teacher.
So many important points were discussed regarding children’s self esteem and feeling like they belong in our world and to participate in our society. I’ve always taught with the underlying intention for children to recognize their place in our world and to feel great about themselves on all levels.
Maya has developed a great program that Continue reading »
Maya Gonzalez creates art for ALA Día poster
In celebration of the 15th anniversary of El día de los Niños/El día de los Libros, Maya created the artwork for the event poster. “ALSC is very proud to have Maya Christina Gonzalez produce the vibrant artwork for the 15th anniversary of El día de los niños/El día de los libros,” said Julie Corsaro, ALSC president. “We believe that her beautiful poster thoroughly reflects this joyous celebration of family literacy.”
Maya says, “When I was asked to do the ALA poster for El Dia, I portrayed a grandmother sharing a special moment with many important aspects of life that support and sustain us. These include reading, nature and community with children from many different cultural backgrounds to reflect all the different ways we are.”
Read more about the 15th anniversary on the ALA website. You can also read more from Maya on Pat Mora’s blog or order your poster or bookmark from the ALA store.
Filed under CLAIMING FACE, Events | Tags: children, creativity, el dia de los libros, el dia de los niños | Comment (0)International Day of Action for Rivers
While searching the web this weekend, we came across a wonderful blog post by Katy Yan on the International Rivers website about Maya’s latest children’s book, I Know the River Loves Me. Katy says:
This is a great book for a young child or classroom, but it also reminds the rest of us about the power that comes from combining words and art, poetry and paint. The author herself was inspired by the Yuba River in California, along with rivers in India, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Mexico, to share her love of rivers with her daughter and a new generation of river protectors.
This year’s International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14 is all about harnessing creative energy to protect and celebrate our rivers. Take this book and that day to remember that there are still free flowing rivers out there, and that no matter how threatened your river may be, it’s never too late to protect, restore or fall in love with it again.
About the International Day
of Action for Rivers:
On March 14, 2011 unite with communities around the world and take part in the fourteenth Annual International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Life. Be inspired to hold your own creative action: Express your love for rivers through music and dance, speak out against human rights violations with paintings and photographs, and call for a better energy and water management model through poetry and words. Find events in your area or create your own.
Read more of Katy’s blog post or learn how you can call and listen to Maya read her book, I Know the River Loves Me.
Filed under Events, General | Tags: celebration, day of action, empowerment, fun | Comment (0)NYS TESOL’s Dialogue Online Magazine reviews Claiming Face
This past October, Nanette Dougherty, otherwise known as the “Curious Librarian” for New York’s Dialogue magazine, reviewed our Claiming Face, the Educator’s Guide. Dialogue magazine is an online E-newsletter from New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Nanette Dougherty has been working with culturally and linguistically diverse students, grades K-12, in New York City’s Title 1 schools for fifteen years. She says about Claiming Face:
The 26 projects are truly engaging. I tried out a few of them with my students. The response was tremendous. They were motivated, and they loved every moment of it. I also saw their sense of pride from creating beautiful and wondrous pieces of art.
Read more of Nanette’s review on the Dialogue website. Plus also check out Maya’s newest blog series all about Claiming Face on the Children’s Book Press blog.
Filed under CLAIMING FACE | Tags: CLAIMING FACE, review | Comment (0)
