How Diverse is Your Library? Books Featuring African-American Children

In last week's post someone asked if I had a list of favorite books featuring African American characters. Many of the books that I like best are those that cover every day occurrences but the characters just happen to be of a different cultural or racial background. In my opinion, these are the type of books that unite us. If you are looking to add some African American books to your library, here are some of my favorites (There are so many and I'm sure that I'm missing a few so feel free to comment and tell me your favorites too!):

Infants and Toddlers

 

Preschoolers

 

 

I haven't read many books for the older groups but many people enjoy:

Black History Month For Preschoolers

How do you celebrate Black History Month with preschool and kindergarten children? Or do you celebrate it at all with this age group? I say… NO. I know, I know….as an African American female, I should be supportive of Black History Month. And really I am - sadly, many people wouldn't even think about Black History if it wasn't for February. But I’d like us to move away from having the need to highlight African Americans once a year. We are creating a new generation of thinkers…a new generation of citizens…what can we do to help everyone move beyond this segmented view of African American history?


If your classroom only reads books about Martin Luther King and Barack Obama in February, then there is a problem. I’m challenging early childhood educators to expose children to people of all races and cultures regardless of what the calendar says. Even if every child in your classroom is the same race, diversity still has a place. The world is diverse all year around, not just in February.


We, as early childhood educators, “get it right” when a lot of others don’t. I think the public school systems can learn a lot from us. Too often, when kids get to “real school” the system paints all kids with one big brush, and if you don’t fit, you either fall through the cracks or end up in a special education program. In early childhood, we know how to tailor our curriculum to fit the needs of individual children. We know that gym and recess aren't "extra-curricular" activities, but that physical activity is necessary for healthy development. We know that we have to attend to the “whole child” and not just his or her test-taking ability. We know that children learn by doing and that authentic assessment has little to do with paper and pencil tests. I think we’ve got it right in a lot of ways. So, since we are the forerunners and foundation-layers in education, we are in a position to set an example for children, families, and other educators. Let’s use Black History Month as a reminder to ourselves that diversity should be a part of everything we do.


I challenge you, not to say "NO" to Black History Month, but to make every month about diversity, acceptance, and inclusiveness. When you are doing your farm unit, learn about George Washington Carver, not because it’s February, but because it’s relevant to your curriculum or theme. Take a new approach to history – look at every unit and theme that you introduce and find a relevant, sensitive, and appropriate way to expose children to diversity so that it becomes a part of everyday conversation, not something separate that we put away at the end of the month. Change starts with us…

Learning to Live a New Normal

I don't quite know how to start this post. I've been thinking about it for a while, but I just don't know where to begin. Do I ignore what my family has endured or do I write about it? Do I dedicate this post to my loved one or do I make it "in memory of" her?  I'm still not sure, so I just thought I'd pick up the proverbial blogging pen and see where this post takes me.

We lose people in so many ways. People die from illness and disease. Sometimes old age or accidents. Sometimes people die at the hands of others. In most situations, you have someone or something to blame. But how do you wrap your brain around a healthy young woman in the prime of her life dying after delivering her second child - a beautiful and healthy baby boy? We aren't living in a third world country where we don't have access to technology and medicine. Dying in childbirth was unheard of to me. But that is what happened. My wonderful, beautiful sister-in-law passed away on December 10 and our world crumbled around us. I just couldn't... and still can't understand this. It seems so surreal. If you remember, I was just raving about the baby shower not too long ago!

My niece and nephew will know their mother. I feel her spirit around me all the time so I know she is watching over her children, over my brother, and over our entire family. People say that time heals all wounds but I'm still hurting...sometimes the tears come unexpectedly - they just fall randomly. Our family is learning to live a new kind of normal. We are doing what families do: We are leaning on and loving each other more than ever before.

People say that God has a plan so that  must mean that my sister-in-law's job here on earth is done. Her assignment here was to make her parents proud, show my brother what it means to love, touch the lives of every family she cared for (she was a nurse practitioner) and to bring those two beautiful children into the world. I know that they are destined for greatness...I just know they are, I can see it in their eyes!

So as I get back to blogging, I'll do it with even more intention and purpose than ever before. My heart is in a different place but early literacy still lives here :-). My sister-in-law was often the inspiration for some of my posts. In fact, when she found out she was having a boy, she inspired me to write my "boys and books" series.

I wasn't sure when the right time would be to resume blogging, but a bit of advice came from an unexpected source and a fellow blogger who also took a break after the death of a loved one: "I found that part of my emotional healing came through my writing. Writers must share their gift. Someone always needs to hear what God has placed on your heart to share. Sometimes you think it is just for you, but someone else needs your "insight" more than you do."

Peace and Blessings Readers. I'm glad to be back. As long as there are children and books on this earth, I still have work to do.

Taking a Break...

Due to a tragic and unexpected death in my family, I am taking a break from blogging. In the meantime, feel free to visit other links on this blog. And remember that tomorrow is not promised: Go hug someone that you love and be kind to one another.


Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5

BOOK OF THE DAY: A Giraffe and a Half

A Giraffe and a Half by Shel Silverstein

Related Activities:

• Learn about (what else...) giraffes. There are many great links:
• National Geographic For Kids
• San Diego Zoo
• Find a zoo that has a giraffe cam like Kid Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, or Marwell Wildlife Center. (Check for times and availability as webcams change often).
• Giraffe webcams, photos and videos.
• Giraffe information from Enchanted Learning and First School.  
• Use a giraffe pattern to make puzzles (cutting the giraffe in 2 pieces to make halves, 3 pieces to make thirds).
•  Make a list of rhyming words used in the book.
• Visit Shel Silverstein's website for great information, printables, and games.
• Make black and white drawings using large paper (water color paper works nicely) and black felt tipped markers.
• Invite someone in to play the flute for your class.
• Create some fraction activities related to the "halves" (ex, during snack time, break cookies in half).
• Read other silly books.
• Mark on a map or globe where giraffes live in Africa.

Other Books By Shel Silverstein:

Other Giraffe Books: