Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.  2020 has been quite a year with two major events that has changed humanity once again.  One being a virus that has infected millions and the other being the death of George Floyd that catapulted the fight against racial inequality to a greater distance.  

Never has the black rights movement seen so many passionate participants from all races and walks of life.  More people have been able to step aside and ask “what if that was my son, brother, or friend who was killed with an officer’s knee on their neck because of the way they looked”? 

Unfortunately, I don’t think we can change the mindset of every individual out there.  Racism will always be there in some kind of form no matter how hard we try to remove it.  However, for those who are interested in making our society a kinder and peaceful one, we can all make some small change to help future generations become more accepting of others that are different.

This can include a simple change such as making more room on bookshelves for more ethnically diverse books for children.  Kids have the ability to absorb things so quickly.  Books are just one of the many ways they are able to explore the world beyond them.  The time has come where we need to start introducing more characters of different ethnicities, religions, medical issues, and any other important difference that are part of today’s reality.  If you want a child to succeed in life, they need to know what real life entails – this includes learning about the different people that live in it.

I had recently asked some friends for book recommendations from their own children’s bookshelves that include diverse characters, so here are some of my favorites and theirs:

Clive and his Art, by Jessica Spanyol (ages 3-6) 

The Snow Day, by Ezra Jack Keats (ages 2-5) 

Saffron Ice Cream, by Rashim Kheiriyeh (ages 4-8)

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai (ages 5 and up)

Turning Pages – My Life Story, by Sonia Sotomayor (ages 5 and up)

Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Pena (ages 3 and up)

Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry

Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammad  (ages 7-10)

Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwell   (ages 4-8)

Big Red Lollipop, by Rukhsana Khan  (ages 4-8)

Animal Sounds For Baby, by Cheryl Willis Hudson (ages 1-3)

Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, by Cheryl Willis Hudson (ages 6 – 9)

Happy Reading and Sharing! Lets hope for a better 2021 and beyond.

Three years ago, the world lost an amazing children’s author to brain cancer – Anna Dewdney.  She is the author of the New York Times best seller and highly acclaimed Llama Llama series, the most notable being Llama Llama Red Pajama. 

Her books have been translated to 13 different languages and have been popular among educators.  Anna’s books are filled with valuable lessons from everyday issues that children face.  There is a particular focus on relationships and the challenges that go with them.  The illustrations done by Anna are a work of art.  The Llama Llama books have also been adapted as a children’s television series on Netflix. 

Prior to Anna’s death, she had numerous works in process and over 20 books completed.   The books have been left to her long-time partner and father of her children, Reed Duncan.  He has the ability to get them published and continue her legacy.  I am sure we will continue to see new Llama Llama books appearing on bookshelves.  You can read more about Anna on the Llama Llama Book site.  

Back in 2016, the Today Show wrote that “Dewdney was described as an “outspoken advocate of literacy,” and her final request reflects that passion: in lieu of a funeral service, Dewdney asked that friends and fans read a book to a child instead.” 

That said, in honor of Anna, I ask you to read a book to a child this month (or the next opportunity you get).

Are you looking for inspirational books for your kids or to give as a gift? While in Berlin a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending some time with my friend Zohra again.  Her daughter was my son’s first friend until she moved back to Germany.  Zohra gifted Dylan these two inspirational books.

I was especially excited to get them as I had seen the books at a London bookstore the week before. I had contemplated on buying them, but decided against it to save some baggage space.

Little People Big Dreams.  It’s such a great series!  You can take your pick of so many influential people:

Mother Teresa. Stephen Hawking. Coco Chanel. Audrey Hepburn. Mahatma Ghandi. Ada Lovelace. Emmeline Pankhurst. Marie Curie. Maria Montessori. David Bowie. Amelia Earhart. Muhammad Ali. Dolly Parton. Women in Science. Georgia O’Keeffe. Frida Khalo. Rosa Parks. Jane Austen. Bruce Lee. Maya Angelou. Harriet Tubman. And others.

Thoughts to consider: Who inspired you when you were young?  Can you be an inspiration to other children?

On a recent trip to London, England my husband and I were hosted by long-time friends with their three lovely children.  We truly enjoyed our time with them in their beautiful home as we devoured the generous and delicious meals they made.   Although I was missing my son who we left with my parents, I was kept occupied with the great company of Sebastian (age 11), Linnea (age 5), and Nicholas (age 6) who had quite a collection of books.

It really is interesting to see what kids are reading in different parts of the world.  Here are a few current favorites in this London household:

Joan Procter Dragon Doctor is based on the true life of Joan Beauchamp Procter, a British zoologist. It’s an empowering and inspirational story recommended for little ones ages 4-8. Curiosity and a passion for what others thought of as odd only led to great achievements for Joan.

I hope some of these recommendations will find their way to your home too. Happy Reading!

Chris Ferrie’s books for children are a big hit at our house!  I highly recommend it if your child has a curiosity for science.  Although it is sold as a children’s book, I think anyone from age 1-100 that has an interest in learning how things work would enjoy it.  I initially bought ABC’s of Science for Dylan when he was a year old.  Now at the age of two, his collection just keeps growing.  My husband and I continue to learn new facts ourselves as we read along with him.

At first glance, it does look like it may be too complex for a young child.  However, Chris Ferrie has managed to provide simple visuals and explanations that children seem to find intriguing (along with us adults too).  He is a researcher and dad currently in Australia that believes that children are capable of learning more than we expect them to.  He has successfully sold more than 20 books and they keep on coming. From Quantum Physics to Robotics, he has opened the door for parents to introduce more advanced science to their young ones.  He is also the same author that wrote Goodnight Lab that was mentioned in my initial post and 8 Little Planets from my Solar System post.

Dylan and I look forward to more books from him!

“A child’s mind is like a beach towel.  If you take it to the beach, it will get wet and used.  If you just keep it on the shelf, it will stay dry and stagnant” – Rani Thomas