The Misadventures of Tarah and Darah: The Switch

I was gifted an e-book edition of The Misadventures of Tarah and Darah: The Switch by authors Dyesha and Triesha McCants and illustrated by Mike Motz for Multicultural Children's Book Day.  This is an uplifting story for younger elementary-aged children who ask themselves why they are different and if different means bad.

The six year old twins in this story, Tarah and Darah, go on many adventures together, and this one takes them to school to switch spots for the day.  It turns out that it is not as much fun as they expected, but just for one twin, Darah.  

While I read, I wondered if they would actually go through with it!  What ends up happening at school is both surprising and funny with a dash of uh-ohs and a conclusion where they come clean, but the story doesn't stop there.  What Darah realized about herself while impersonating her sister is what the main message of the book is all about.  When they come home and talk with their Gran Gran Eve, she talks with them about their special gifts.  Not physical presents, but gifts that all of us have on the inside that make us individuals.  

When reading and discussing this book with young children, you can ask them what are their special gifts that make them their own person, different from anyone else in the world, even their twin!  You can also discuss the choices the other characters made in the story.  One of their classmates notices the switch.  What would the reader do if they were in his shoes?  

Finally, the best part of this story is the supportive Grandma Eve who hails from South Carolina and takes care of the twins.  The twins note how she has a different dialect than them and they love the way she talks and puts things.  This love of language is universal and any reader of this story can relate.  No matter where you are from, the sayings that come from there enrich your culture.

  As a librarian, teacher and parent, I would recommend this story to others who want a humorous, yet serious book about what makes a person unique.  The authors are experienced educators, too, and they are twins!  Their website has curriculum resources for teachers. The illustrations in the story are as bright and vibrant as the characters.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th 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 book into the hands of young readers and educators.

Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission and History here: https://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/about/mission/