Kindergarten stories to read9/25/2023 At a moment in this country where schools are banning books and some people are trying to prevent teachers from talking about race in school, Pinkard says parents and educators have two choices. It doesn’t only speak about the hardship and the struggle of the Black experience, it uplifts the Black experience,” says Pinkard. “I like this book because it thinks about ways that we can approach our history, our family lineage in a contributive manner to the fabric of America. Written by Nikole Hannah-Jones, who started the 1619 Project - a 2019 initiative from the New York Times Magazine marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery - Born on the Water speaks directly to the idea that race is essential to the narrative and history of America. Both she and Pinkard recommend The 1619 Project: Born on the Water as an example of one of these books. According to Joshi, who is working to make Read Across America Day (March 2) a more diverse and inclusive national event, these books are a great way to teach kids to ask questions about who is telling a given story, whose voices we are hearing, and whose voices we might not be hearing. There are now more and more books available to young people that challenge past historical conversations and whose stories were being told. We asked Frison, Stephens, Smith, Kruger, and two other experts about the best children’s picture books, board books, fiction and nonfiction books, and graphic novels to start reading during Black History Month and keep reading all year. “If a book talks about obstacles, make sure it talks about resiliency as well,” he says. Lastly, Stephens says it’s important to offer a balance of books that deal with the real injustices Black people face as well as books that show joyful scenes from ordinary life. When it comes to choosing exactly which books to read with your kids, educator Brittany Smith says, “Don’t limit yourself! Reading Black literature in all of its beautiful forms will always be beneficial because books themselves are beneficial they teach us something, whether it be self-love, the value of community, the history of a leader, or simply more social-emotional awareness.” Mollie Welsh Kruger, a professor at the Bank Street College of Education, suggests paying attention to the books or genre of books your child enjoys and expanding from there. Educating children (and adults) about the resiliency, contributions, and joy of Black people throughout history is a way to push back against harmful, dominant narratives, he says. That’s why Stephens suggests looking for titles that specifically support Woodson’s mission, whether directly or indirectly. That was 96 years ago, but so many of the same injustices and a lack of empowering narratives persist today. Woodson, who is now known as “the father of Black history.” In 1926, Woodson created Negro History Week, which would later become Black History Month his aim was to address the overall lack of Black history and education in the United States by providing empowering narratives about Black people and combating the overall injustices that they face. According to Sheneatha Frison, a school outreach librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, it’s important to realize that Black history is American history, and learning about it can and should be happening all year long.īefore buying any books or borrowing them from the library, Ramon Stephens, executive director of the nonprofit the Conscious Kid, recommends first considering the original intentions of scholar Carter G. But February is a short month, and it shouldn’t be the only time we read books that celebrate the history of Black people and their accomplishments and contributions to the world at large. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Black History Month with the kids in your life, reading books that lift up Black voices is a great place to start. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers
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