Black Lives Matter: Anti-Racist Strategies

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Black Americans: We see you, we hear you, we support you, and we condemn the violent acts against Black Americans that happen too frequently in the United States including the murders most recently of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, David McAtee, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor. Black. Lives. Matter.

Racism is a long-standing virus in our country. Because of racism, Black people are brutalized, murdered, and unjustly treated. This virus is not new—it is engrained in our history. And what is happening in our country now (and throughout our time as a nation) is motivated by the White systemic racism that permeates structures and motivations of this country.

As Dr. Ibram X. Kendi states in How to Be an Antiracist, “The opposite of racist isn’t ‘not racist.’ It is ‘anti-racist.’ What’s the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.'”

So to combat racism, we must be actively anti-racist.

Educate ourselves about the history of racism, race relations, and the act of anti-racism. 

  • Anti-Racism Booklist from @idealbookshelf
  • Anti-Racism Book List from Candace Greene McManus including gateway books and books to dig deeper.
  • Educators: Educate on race in education and in literature.
    • Books to share from The Brown Book Shelf and KidLit Community Rally for Black Lives:
      • We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor
      • Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed
      • Teacher for Black Lives by Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, and Wayne Au
      • Libraries, Literacy, and African American Youth edited by Dr. Paulette Brown Bracy, Sandra Hughes-Hassell, and Casey H. Rawson
      • The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas

Educate ourselves about what IS racist. 

  • Learn about passive/covert racism as well as active/overt racism and take action on what.
  • Educators: Learn about how schools are racist and how they have the potential to get even worse (from The Progressive). (The links in this article provide further background, as well.)
    • Then, apply what you have learned to your own context. What can you do to make a change? How can you stop being complicit and start being anti-racist?

Make sure we understand our own implicit biases and White privilege. 

It’s time to start doing. Remember: educating ourselves is critical, but it is only the first step. Action must follow.

Share posts from Black activists or organizations that inform about, fight against, and educate on police brutality.

Support works produced by Black artists and creatives. 

Donate, join, support, and participate in organizations (a few are noted below).

Support Black businesses.

Highlight the history and contributions of the Black community. Below, we offer a list of contributions to education and books. 

Call your local and state reps and demand change.

Discuss race, race relations, and anti-racism with students, kids, family, etc. 

Read and share books by BIPOC authors and about BIPOC characters with our students, kids, family, etc. 

  • Book recommendations by Black authors (This is a list of books we have especially loved and recommend. This list is limited. Please be sure to click the links throughout the post for more book recommendations, and keep your finger on the pulse of new releases to constantly learn and grow.)
    • Picture Books
      • Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
      • Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
      • The 5 O’Clock Band by Troy Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
      • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
      • The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
      • Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier
      • The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba, illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd
      • Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeloa
      • Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
      • Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
      • Shortcut by Donald Crews
      • Freight Train by Donald Crews
      • Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
      • Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
      • Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
      • Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter
      • Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
      • Fresh Princess by Denene Millner, illustrated by Gladys Jose
      • Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
      • H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers
      • Harlem by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers
      • Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champion by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Alix Delinois
      • Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
      • Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson
      • My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
      • Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and his Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkey, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomping Stride by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
      • A Day at the Museum by Christina Platt, illustrated by Sharon Sordo (chapter book)
      • Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
      • Another by Christian Robinson
      • You Matter by Christian Robinson
      • Little Melba and her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Frank Morrison
      • Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
      • Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
      • Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
      • Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ransom
      • Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
      • The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
      • Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
      • This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James E. Ransom
    • Middle Grade
      • Crossover by Kwame Alexander
      • Booked by Kwame Alexander
      • The Usual Suspect by Maurice Broaddus
      • New Kid by Jerry Craft
      • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • The Watsons Go to Burmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
      • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
      • Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper
      • The Last-Last-Day of Summer by Lamar Giles
      • Great Greene Heist series by Varian Johnson
      • Robyn Hoodlum series by Kekla Magoon
      • Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
      • Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri
      • Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
      • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
      • Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
      • Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
      • Track series by Jason Reynolds
      • Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
      • Louisiana Girls Trilogy by Jewell Parker Rhodes
      • Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrewy Vernick
      • Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
      • Logan series by Mildred D. Taylor
      • Gaither Sisters series by Rita Williams-Garcia
      • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
      • Locomotion series by Jacqueline Woodson
      • Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
    • Young Adult
      • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • With Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
      • Swing by Kwame Alexander
      • Solo by Kwame Alexander
      • Kendra by Coe Booth
      • Tyrell series by Coe Booth
      • Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence, A True Story of Black and White by Geoffrey Canada, illustrated by Jamar Nicholas
      • The Belles series by Dhonielle Clayton
      • Tyler Johnson was Here by Jay Coles
      • Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
      • Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles
      • Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
      • Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
      • Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
      • A Certain October by Angela Johnson
      • First Part Last by Angela Johnson
      • I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal
      • March series by John Lewis
      • How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
      • Tyrell by Coe Booth
      • Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers
      • It Ain’t All for Nonthin’ by Walter Dean Myers
      • Monster by Walter Dean Myers
      • Knockout Games by G. Neri
      • It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
      • All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
      • When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
      • Dear Martin by Nic Stone
      • Odd One Out by Nic Stone
      • The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
      • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
      • Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
      • Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson
      • The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
      • American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Educate ourselves about the system we are part of.

Talk about anti-racism. Speak up when others are being racist. Educators, teach about being anti-racist. This is your job–in order to support young people. Just so we are clear, this includes teachers in predominantly White classrooms.

Continue to listen to Black voices, do not stop educating yourself, and focus your learning on anti-racist ACTIONS. White Americans, if you feel exhausted, keep in mind that Black Americans don’t have opportunity to shut off the effects of racism. This is a privilege.

Educators, we must frame everything we do to be anti-racist.

What anti-racist work are you doing?

and

**Please note: These links have been widely shared on social media, and we curated them here and added many others to give them a concrete place. This is shared work.**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/8/20

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

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Tuesday: LyricPop: A New Picture Book Series from Akashic Books with Don’t Stop, song lyrics by Christine McVie, illustrations by Nusha Ashjaee; Good Vibrations, song lyrics by Mike Love and Brian Wilson, illustrations by Paul Hoppe; We’re Not Gonna Take It, song lyrics by Dee Snider, illustrations by Margaret McCartney;  African, song lyrics by Peter Tosh, illustrations by Rachel Moss

Thursday: Camp Candlewick

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Why Reread?” by Dorothy A. Winsor, Author of The Wysman

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

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Kellee

Sorry this is so long. We did a lot of reading this week, and I wanted to share it all!

  • The Grace Year by Kim Liggett: The Grace Year says a lot about womanhood, girl on girl bullying, and societal expectations of woman. Reminded me a lot of Wilder Girls in what it was saying about woman and societal sexism with a story in a dystopian world. I had some problems with the book, but I can see why it is on teen lists and why many people love it.
  • Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham: Before I read this with Trent, I wanted to make sure it spoke what I wanted to share with him. And I think it does a very good job of introducing White privilege to kids and shows that educating kids is the way to move forward. I will be reading this with Trent.
  • Trent read to me this week
    • It’s Shoe Time by Bryan Collier: Sometimes your pair is who is least expected. And it is also okay to go out and have some fun without your pair. Oh, and don’t worry about norms. All of these are lessons told from the point of view of shoes. Pretty darn smart!
    • Do You Like My Bike? by Norm Feuti & (not pictured) Let’s Have a Sleepover by Norm Feuti: These acorn books from Scholastic are perfect for Trent’s age and practicing reading. The stories are fun and relatable. We also love that they are early graphic novels. And Trent really likes Harry.
    • What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins: The newest in the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series and by the author of the Bruce books–a winning combination.
  • Read with Trent
    • We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorrell: What a beautiful book. It highlights modern Cherokee life through a year and all that they are grateful. The illustrations remind me of artist Carmen Lomas Garza in the truth and narrative of the depiction of life and the story teaches and honors the Cherokee story.
    • Dragons Love Tacos 1 & 2 by Adam Rubin: We added the Hoopla extension to our Roku, and Trent found these movies. Love having book movies as an option on the tv.
    • I am Enough by Grace Byers: Such an empowering message as the young girl in the story celebrates herself and the enoughness of her. The lyrics were melodic with inclusive illustrations–a beautiful picture book.
    • Mac B. Kid Spy: Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett & Rosie Revere and the Racous Riveters by Andrea Beaty: Both of our book clubs finished their books this week. Trent says they both deserve 5 stars! Both of these authors are more known for their picture books, but I recommend their chapter books, too.
    • The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke: This stunning book celebrates the intuitiveness, creativity, and engineering of kids and their ability to take the best out of their situation. And man, do I love the illustrations. Please make sure to read the author and illustrator notes because they truly tie the book together.
    • Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney: Jerry Pinkney knows how to craft a book! He is a genius. The illustrations are as ridiculously good as you expect, and I loved the little bit of the twist he threw in to tie in a lesson that every kid can take away.
    • Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes: I loved this book the first time I read it (um, brilliant writing and illustrations, am I right?!), and now I am so happy to share it with Trent. I loved showing him about this young Black boy’s journey at the barbershop and the importance of it in his neighborhood. The conversation following the reading was nice because although Trent found a lot of connections with his barbershop, he had some questions about some differences. And with this one, don’t miss the author’s note either.
    • Thank You, Omu! by Oge Moran: Oh, Omu! What a kind queen, just like her name means. This book celebrates community. I find it to be a modern day Giving Tree which shows how you support someone who gives to you.
    • You Matter by Christian Robinson: We watched Christian Robinson read this on PBS Kids, and he shared that he created this book because he wants every kid to know they matter, and he did. With scarce yet lyrical text and his signature illustrations, Christian Robinson shows that no matter what, you matter.
    • Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall: This was probably Trent’s favorite picture book of the week. It is about courage to try something new but also the patience it may take and the fear you may find when doing something new. And the dad’s support is THE BEST!
    • Another by Christian Robinson: A wordless picture book where an alternate dimension shows that perspective changes everything. Once again Christian Robinson’s artwork shines!
    • Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed: We’ve read Rocket Says Look Up (below) quite a few times, and Trent always has me look up Mae Jemison because Rocket mentions her, so when I found out about this picture book about her as a young child, I knew Trent was going to love it, and I was right. It shows that if you dream it and work hard, you can do it! One particular part made me so mad and led to some great conversation: Mae says at school she wants to be an astronaut, and her teacher redirects her and asks her if nurse may be better. Trent and I were so mad at this! But it also gave us a chance to talk. Why did the teacher say this? That answer is a hard and long one, but he and I talked about it.
    • Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima: Trent loved this quirky adventure tale more than me, but I did love the characters!
    • The Dreamer by Il Sung Na: When pigs fly? The pig fails many times before succeeding but doesn’t give up and eventually the pig does fly!
    • Rocket Says Look Up by Nathan Bryon: A favorite favorite favorite book of Trent’s now. Rocket knows that presence is important and that the world around her and in space is beautiful. Others won’t listen and she almost lets defeat get to her, but her brother steps up and so does the universe.
    • Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy: I didn’t know this was a true story!!! Read this book for the story and the illustrations but stay for the author’s note. Rafael López and his wife started the Urban Art Trail in San Diego with just the idea to add color to their neighborhood. And man, is it beautiful! (And I’ve been chastising myself for not reading this and knowing about it before going to San Diego!)
    • Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña: Another Christian Robinson illustrated book! A coming of age picture book mixed with sadness yet hope and a sister/brother relationship that seemed very real.
    • Poppleton Has Fun by Cynthia Rylant: This series is quite fun; we only have 2 more in the series to finish.
    • Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard: Wow. Wow. Wow. What a beautifully crafted book. The topic seems so simple at first but the way that Kevin Noble Maillard delves into Native American family, traditions, art, and history is brilliant. What crafting! And Juana Martinez-Neal brings the words to life with her illustrations.
  • Will be reviewing soon: The Blue Giant by Katie Cottle & What Did the Good Night Monster Do? by Ruth Austi

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I think my kids and I are reading about 6-7 books a day. I am not as good at Kellee at keeping an ongoing list. Instead I am a bit more abstract, and I sit down on Sunday nights and think, “Which books do we remember? Which stick out that I want to share?” Not a great method, I know. Sometimes, I think, “Ahh! I didn’t share that book!” I need to be more like Kellee. Here are five books that stuck out to me. If you drop down below, I have some great books I started this week!

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James lives up to the amazingness of Crown, their award-winning past book. I loved reading this one to my kids and highly recommend it. It is masterfully done, and I will be surprised if it doesn’t garner big awards this year!

Good Night Monster by Ruth Austin is a wonderful book set (with a plush) for helping kids who are afraid of monsters at night. Kellee and I review this set next week, and I am really looking forward to sharing about how much my children loved it next week. I heard about

Spotted Tail by David Heska Wanbli Weiden at the SLJ Day of Dialogue last week and had to get it. My sons loved learning about Spotted Tail. It offers a beautiful history and the illustrations are absolutely magnificent.

Cicada by Shaun Tan. If you know Shaun Tan, this book offers the complexity of all of his books. It is quite powerful, and thinking about it makes me shiver. Its message is quite extraordinary.

What About Worms? by Ryan T. Higgins and Mo Willems. Kellee mentioned this book above, and we just got it. My boys are genuinely obsessed with it. Whatever floor they are on, this book is on it. They think it is hysterical.

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Kellee

  • Reading: Not sure yet!
  • Listening: Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
  • Reading with Trent: Not sure yet!

Ricki

I am bouncing between three books in different parts in my house (a book for every room). All are amazingly good. I am sure you’ve heard of them, but I don’t think they can be shared enough. How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. This is My America by Kim Johnson. Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. I cannot wait to share more. In fact, I am going to head on upstairs to read more right now.

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Tuesday: Black Live Matter: Anti-Racist Resources

Sunday: Student Voices: Top 20 Favorite Books by Aneesah F. and Jordan K., 8th Grade

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Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

 Signature andRickiSig

Author Guest Post: “Why Reread?” by Dorothy A. Winsor, Author of The Wysman

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“Why Reread?”

Recently, someone on Twitter asked if people ever read a book more than once. The answer for me is, of course! But not all books. There are books I read only once and books I reread, often more than once. Thinking about that twitter question, I tried to look at books I reread and see if they have anything in common. I wanted to know what made me, at least, reread a book.

So I pulled three books off my shelf, almost at random. These days, if I have a book in physical form, it’s because I want to reread it. Otherwise I buy a less expensive and more easily stored e-book. The three books now on my desk are Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lois McMaster Bujold’s Warrior’s Apprentice, and Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief. So what common threads can I find in these very different books?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I’ve loved Jane Austen since I was in the seventh grade, and it’s a love that’s aged well. I still love Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. They feel real to me, and I see the shaping of their personal lives as something worth caring about. Critics are wrong to dismiss a finely wrought portrayal of domestic life as somehow trivial. Family and romantic relationships affect how happy any of us is.

Additionally, Austen valued character development in the moral sense. That is, her books make a claim that we are obligated to figure out what it means to be a good person and try to live up to that standard. Would we care for a sister, as Elizabeth cares for Jane? Can we exercise self control as Lydia does not? Can we overcome our pride and our prejudices to avoid harming other people and our own happiness?

Those things matter in Austen’s book, and they matter to me.

Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

I’m making a big leap from a realistic novel published in 1813 to a piece of contemporary science fiction in The Warrior’s Apprentice. So let’s see if the qualities that make a book rereadable transcend era and genre.

For me, the major attraction of Warrior’s Apprentice isn’t the space battles; it’s the central character, Miles Vorkorsigan. Miles was born with a deformed body in a world where less than perfect infants were exposed and left die in the recent past. He compensates for his physical limitations with his considerable (and slightly twisted) cleverness.

Because Miles has to go about his military career in unexpected ways, he often surprises me, which I like. He also makes me laugh, and not always with him. He’s one of those people who gets things rolling and then finds himself chasing events that have spiraled out of control. Hence the title of the book, deliberately patterned after Goethe’s “Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

The reason I can reread this book, and the others in this series, is that Miles continues to be interesting. I care about his struggles against a world where he doesn’t fit in.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Again, I’m jumping genres but only slightly. The Thief is a fantasy set in a quasi-Greek world that was originally published as a middle-grade novel, i.e. a book intended for readers 10 and up. Currently, it’s sold on young adult shelves, i.e. as a book intended for teen readers. Really, it’s unclassifiable. Every Megan Whalen Turner fan I know is an adult.

The Thief rewards rereading more than any other book I know. The first time I read it, I thought its central character, Gen, violated the principle that the protagonist must protag. That is, the central character must drive events. Gen seemed to be being dragged along by other people, and yet I was engaged anyway.

The second time I read the book, I read almost every incident differently than I had the first time. The book includes a big twist near the end, and often twisty books don’t work well on rereading because the twist doesn’t surprise the reader the second time. But I’ve never felt that way about this book, because that twist completely changed everything else about the story. It continues to surprise and delight me. Megan Whalen Turner is a magician of a writer.

Generalizations?

First, I assume different readers respond to different books, so my rereadable qualities may not be the same as someone else’s.

So am I able to draw any generalizations from this? Well, I repeatedly mention loving the characters. I’d guess that for most people, a plot draws them through the book the first time, but a book’s characters are what make them love the book and reread it.

I also seem to value clever characters and those who struggle to do something hard, whether that’s win a battle or sacrifice their own desires for the sake of someone else. I believe in the value of stories and what they have to tell us about the human condition and the human heart, and these books answer that belief.

Austen has a young woman as the central character, and the other two books have young men. I’ve heard other people say they only read books with either male or female protagonists, but that doesn’t seem to matter to me. I notice, though, that all the books I chose are by women. I have books by men on my reread shelf, but there are more by women. Is that a coincidence? I’m honestly not sure.

So what books do you reread? Why? What are the qualities that matter to you? Are they the same as mine? What books do you come back to again and again?

Publishing June 27th, 2020 from Inspired Quill Publising

“The Grabber is just a fright tale.”

Former street kid Jarka was born with a crooked foot and uses a crutch, but that no longer matters now that he’s an apprentice Wysman, training to advise the king. When poor kids start to go missing from the city’s streets, though, Jarka suspects that whatever’s causing the disappearances comes from the castle.

Now he needs to watch his step or risk losing the position he fought so hard to win… but when someone close to him becomes the latest victim, Jarka knows he’s running out of time.

His search takes him from diving into ancient history, to standing up to those who want to beat or bleed the magic out of him.

Will Jarka succeed in uncovering an evil long-hidden, or will he see friends and family vanish into the darkness?

About the Author:Dorothy A. Winsor writes young adult and middle grade fantasy. Her novels include Finders Keepers (Zharmae, 2015), Deep as a Tomb (Loose Leave Publishing, 2016), The Wind Reader (Inspired Quill, 2018), and The Wysman (June, 2020). At one time, Winsor taught technical writing at Iowa State University and GMI Engineering & Management Institute (now Kettering). She then discovered that writing fiction is much more fun and has never looked back. She lives in Chicagoland.

Thank you, Dorothy, at this look at rereading and its powers!
What books do you all love to reread?

Camp Candlewick

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We’re excited to share Camp Candlewick, a new online reading program! Over the course of twelve weeks, young people of all ages will be encouraged to take part in shared reads, activities, and virtual events with prominent creators.

Via website content (at https://stayhome.candlewick.com/) and email newsletters as well as robust support resources on sites such as Pinterest, “campers” will be alerted to reading suggestions, prompts, and activities for the “cabins” appropriate for their age.

Here are the four cabins! Each are hyperlinked to take you to the cabin’s Pinterest board:

From the press release: The idea for the summer camp grew out of the success of the publisher’s Stay Home with Candlewick Press initiative, which has provided resources and support to families during the transition to remote learning. “We realized that families might feel even more in need of diversion over the summer, when the school year has ended and many camps will be closed,” said Kathleen Rourke, executive director of educational library sales and marketing at Candlewick.

“Preventing the loss of skills is more critical than ever this year,” Rourke said. “We hope that these 12 weeks of activities will provide connection and enrichment when young readers need it most.”

We look forward to our sons taking part in Camp Candlewick as well as sharing the opportunity with our students!

LyricPop: A New Picture Book Series from Akashic Books with Don’t Stop, Good Vibrations,We’re Not Gonna Take It, and African

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Don’t Stop, song lyrics by Christine McVie, illustrations by Nusha Ashjaee
Good Vibrations, song lyrics by Mike Love and Brian Wilson, illustrations by Paul Hoppe
We’re Not Gonna Take It, song lyrics by Dee Snider, illustrations by Margaret McCartney
African, song lyrics by Peter Tosh, illustrations by Rachel MossAuthor:

Published June 2, 2020 by Akashic Books

LyricPop Summary: LyricPop presents your favorite song lyrics by renowned songwriters as illustrated picture books, instilling a love of music and song among young readers.

“LyricPop represents two things I’m passionate about—music, and books for children,” said Johnny Temple, publisher of Akashic Books. “As both a musician and a publisher, I hope LyricPop will inspire parents, grandparents, and others to read (and even sing!) these books aloud with the children in their lives.”

After these four initial books are released, October 6th We Got the Beat, Respect, and Move the Crowd will be published. Then March 2, 2021 will bring us (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, Humble and Kind, and These Boots are Made for Walkin’.

Don’t Stop Summary: Don’t Stop is a beautifully illustrated picture book based on Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac’s enduring anthem to optimism and patience. The song was one of the singles on Fleetwood Mac’s megahit album Rumours, which spent thirty-one weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and went on to sell over forty million copies worldwide.

With lyrics by Christine McVie and illustrations by Nusha Ashjaee, this touching picture book imagines a rabbit willing her hibernating friends out of a long and dark winter and into joyous spring. Don’t Stop is a great opportunity for fans of Christine McVie and Fleetwood Mac to introduce their favorite band to their young children, and for parents looking to share a bright message in song.

• Debuting in 1977, this song is one of the most identifiable of that decade
• A classic rock radio staple
• A top-five single in the US, and one of the band’s most enduring hits
• Written by band keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie
• Sung as duet between Christine McVie and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham
• Appears on the Grammy-winning album Rumours, which as of 2019 is the RIAA-certified tenth all-time best-selling album in the US
• It was the theme song for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign

Good Vibrations Summary: Good Vibrations is a lively picture book based on Mike Love and Brian Wilson’s number one hit about absorbing positive energy from the people around them. Often praised as one of the most important compositions in rock, the Beach Boys’ original version of this song was their third number one Billboard hit. With lyrics by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, and illustrations by Paul Hoppe, this picture book follows a girl and her dog as they make their way down to the beach, sharing good vibrations all along the way. Parents and children alike can share and enjoy one of rock’s greatest hits through the colorful pages of Good Vibrations.

• Released in 1966, this is one of the defining and iconic songs of the era
• The recording involved the then-revolutionary process of tape-splicing, cutting up and editing pieces of the master tape together
• The musicians used in the recording of the song included members of the Wrecking Crew, the legendary set of Los Angeles session studio players
• Beach Boys publicist Derek Taylor described the song as a “pocket symphony” (Derek was the former press officer for the Beatles and the Beach Boys, and worked with the Byrds and the Mamas & the Papas, among others)
• The unusual sound featured in the song’s chorus was produced by an electrotheremin
• The song was a transatlantic number one, reaching the top spot in both the US and the UK
• The song was the last US number one the Beach Boys achieved in the 1960s
• Inducted into both the GRAMMY and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame
• Rolling Stone ranked the song at number six on its 2010 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
• In 2001, the RIAA and the National Endowment for the Arts published their Songs of the Century list, with “Good Vibrations” at number 24
• The song is part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s permanent exhibition, 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll

We’re Not Gonna Take It Summary: We’re Not Gonna Take It is a playful picture book echoing 1980s hair band Twisted Sister’s most popular antiestablishment anthem. As part of their triple-platinum album Stay Hungry, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” spent fifteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number twenty-one. With lyrics by Dee Snider and illustrations by Margaret McCartney, this picture book follows three toddlers on a mission to defy their parents, whether it be lunchtime, bath  time, or bedtime. We’re Not Gonna Take It is a story both parents and children can relate to, and a song they can enjoy together.

• Released in 1984, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” is a signature rock anthem of the 1980s
• The song was a Hot 100 top forty hit and reached the top ten on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart
• The album it appeared on, Stay Hungry, was the band’s breakthrough and a US top twenty hit
• Its anthemic quality has propelled the song to become a US pop culture touchstone
• The song has an iconic music video

African Summary: African is a children’s book featuring lyrics by Peter Tosh and illustrations by Jamaican artist Rachel Moss. The song “African” by Peter Tosh was originally released in 1977 on his second solo record, Equal Rights. He wrote the song during a time of civil unrest in Jamaica as a reminder to all black people that they were part of the same community.
The album is considered one of the most influential reggae works of all time.

• A key song from the classic 1970s era of reggae
• Peter Tosh was one of the founding members of the iconic reggae group the Wailers

Review: All four of these classic songs are ones that as soon as you hear the title you start humming the melody or reciting the lyrics and LyricPop books is a great way to introduce these to a new generation of kids. All four are very different songs and illustrations which shows the extension of this new picture book series.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In the classroom, I would have so much fun with these. I would love to group my students in four different groups (or more if it is after more LyricPop books have come out), have them listen to the songs these books are based on, and create their own picture book. Then, after they do so, they can read the LyricPop books and compare and contrast. This would be a great way to discuss interpretation, figurative language, illustrator choices, etc.

There’s another option too: Have students read the lyrics first without listening to the song and create a book. Then, after listening to the song, ask how they would change their book.

When done with the songs from LyricPop, students could then pick their own songs and make their own books!

Discussion Questions: 

  • Why do you think the illustrator interpreted the lyrics the way they did?
  • Do you think of the lyrics the same or different?
  • What is the main theme of the song?
  • (Before hearing the song) How do you imagine the song is going to sound?
  • (After hearing the song) Does the book fit the sound of the song?

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Read This If You Love: Music

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Akashic Books for providing copies for review**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/1/20

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

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Tuesday: The Refuge by Sandra le Guen, Illustrated by Stéphane Nicolet

Thursday: Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses by Paige Towler

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

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Kellee

School’s out for the summer! 🙂 Hope you all are having a good end of the school year, and happy summer to those already out!

  • The Brave by James Bird: “This middle-grade novel The Brave is about a boy with an OCD issue and his move to a reservation to live with his biological mother.Collin can’t help himself—he has a unique condition that finds him counting every letter spoken to him. It’s a quirk that makes him a prime target for bullies, and a continual frustration to the adults around him, including his father.When Collin asked to leave yet another school, his dad decides to send him to live in Minnesota with the mother he’s never met. She is Ojibwe, and lives on a reservation. Collin arrives in Duluth with his loyal dog, Seven, and quickly finds his mom and his new home to be warm, welcoming, and accepting of his condition.Collin’s quirk is matched by that of his neighbor, Orenda, girl who lives mostly in her treehouse and believes she is turning into a butterfly. With Orenda’s help, Collin works hard to overcome his challenges. His real test comes when he must step up for his new friend and trust his new family.”
  • With Trent:
    • On Mac Barnett’s IG Book Club Show Book Club: A few rereadings of his picture books and two new-to-us books: There’s a Party at Mona’s Tonight by Harry Allard and Kuma-Kuma Chan, The Little Bear by Kazue Takahashi — two very different books! Kuma-Kuma Chan was beautiful and quiet, Mona was loud and silly.
      • Starting this week, Mac Barnett is moving to a weekly book club, and we are so sad! It has been our picture book reading (we’ve been reading chapter books together), and we are going to miss it!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I will return next week, I promise! I spent the week working on a chapter for my book!

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Kellee

  • Reading: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
  • Listening (slowly but surely since I am not driving often…): Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
  • Reading with Trent (for one book club): Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters by Andrea Beaty
  • Reading with Trent (for another book club): Mac B. Kid Spy: Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett

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Tuesday: LyricPop: A New Picture Book Series from Akashic Books with Don’t Stop, song lyrics by Christine McVie, illustrations by Nusha Ashjaee; Good Vibrations, song lyrics by Mike Love and Brian Wilson, illustrations by Paul Hoppe; We’re Not Gonna Take It, song lyrics by Dee Snider, illustrations by Margaret McCartney;  African, song lyrics by Peter Tosh, illustrations by Rachel Moss

Thursday: Camp Candlewick

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Why Reread?” by Dorothy A. Winsor, Author of The Wysman

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Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses by Paige Towler

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Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses
Author: Paige Towler
Foreword Author: Tara Stiles
Published May 19th, 2020 by National Geographic Kids

Summary: Adorable animal photos and lyrical text guide kids step-by-step through easy animal-inspired yoga poses.

Roar like a lion! Arch like a kitten! Stretch like a cobra! Did you know that many yoga poses were inspired by animals? Let these creatures inspire your young ones to get moving, practice mindfulness, or calm down after a long day. Simple step-by-step instructions explain the kid-friendly moves. Kids will get a kick out of the accompanying photos of animals that mimic each pose, and the sweet poem is sure to delight.

The foreword by Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga, reminds us that we’re never too young to start enjoying the health benefits of yoga and mindfulness. Animal Yoga is the perfect intro to this ancient practice–great for engaging (and quieting!) a class, reading aloud one-on-one, or helping restless little ones fall asleep at bedtime or naptime.

Review: Trent and I love doing Yoga together. We have family yoga mats, and he’s done mommy & me yoga with me though is favorite is Cosmic Yoga on You Tube. I wanted to make yoga part of Trent’s life because not only is it a wonderful form of exercise that he and I can do together, but it is also beneficial for mindset. Yoga Animals is a wonderful introduction to both aspects. I like that it makes the yoga poses accessible for so many ages. For example, it could be for a mom to do with a very young child as an introduction. Or older kids who may have done yoga in the past can use it independently. Here is Trent practicing his poses:

The book structure is also fun. The majority includes the animal photos with a connection to the yoga pose then a photo of the pose with instructions. In the back it goes more in depth about the pose and the animal taking the information to a whole other level.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: As the push for a healthy mindset has become more front and center recently as we realize that the current educational system is adding extra stress on kids, this book is a perfect addition to a classroom to have brain breaks. During the brain breaks, a new yoga pose can be introduced and the animal can be talked about as well. Then past yoga poses can be practiced as well.

Discussion Questions: 

  • What other animals have yoga poses?
  • How is the ____ pose like a ____ animal?
  • How does yoga help you physically and mentally?
  • Come up with your own stretch that resembles an animal.

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Also, go to https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/books/yoga-animals/ to see videos of Tara Stiles sharing poses from the book.

Read This If You Love: Yoga, Animals, Brain Breaks

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Karen at Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy for review!!**