I’m 54 and I don’t even have kids, but was drawn in, so I read this piece. Even without kids, I enjoyed the read and agree with much of what you wrote about kids’ books.
Mostly, though, I wanted to tell you that in my almost 55 years, you are the first person I’ve ever heard mention Abiyoyo, a record I went to sleep to every night as a tiny tot! Thank you for the reminder of a happy memory!
Also, Corduroy was probably my fave childhood book.
Thank you so much for doing this research! My kids are older teens now, so I wish I would have had this list a few years ago, but nonetheless, thank you! There's one more book you could ad: "Grandma Lena's Big 'Ol Turnip" by Denia Lewis Hester and Jackie Urbanovic. My kids loved it.
So a question for you: do you have any recommendations of good (non-woke) biographies of black men or women that my teens (ages 17 and 14) would read? My 17 yr old is a girl who's tired of our surrounding mostly white Christian culture type books and my son is 14 and is in a classical Christian school so I think he'd love anything that isn't ancient or medieval! (He reads things like Eusebius and Herodotus in school, etc.) I really need some ideas!
I'm so glad you've created this forum/substack. It's really necessary and I will spread the word. We need more free thinking black committed Christian moms/wives/women!
I’m 54 and I don’t even have kids, but was drawn in, so I read this piece. Even without kids, I enjoyed the read and agree with much of what you wrote about kids’ books.
Mostly, though, I wanted to tell you that in my almost 55 years, you are the first person I’ve ever heard mention Abiyoyo, a record I went to sleep to every night as a tiny tot! Thank you for the reminder of a happy memory!
Also, Corduroy was probably my fave childhood book.
Thank you for the feedback. And you never get too old for a good children's book. :)
Beautiful selection.
Thank you for this list!
Here’s a book I used to check out from the library when my daughter was young. Very sweet.
https://www.amazon.com/Oscars-Half-Birthday-Bob-Graham/dp/1844280292/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NYGOGXAE4SYG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.F01xmf9TjCxOVARJQe8E_hEnmvKjymhDCy7LhUhUOo15I59uA850pgnhGBgqZB_s.lEmfbUPUd_DALmfG69jL5xfstJO3vzA7khHQROYjBiA&dib_tag=se&keywords=oscar%27s+half+birthday+graham&qid=1732318454&sprefix=oscar%27s+half+bi%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1
I LOVE children's books. I am blessed to have had such a nice library when I was a girl.
Its important to me to expose my daughter to all types of cultures and perspectives through literature.
Some of the books today are too obviously "woke" for my liking as well. Although, I do appreciate "Hair Love".
I like the Lola series by Anna McQuinn. Lola looks my little one, lol.
Anything illustrated by Oge Mora.
Flossie and the Fox by Patricia Mckissack (love McKissack)
My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee
Thank you so much for doing this research! My kids are older teens now, so I wish I would have had this list a few years ago, but nonetheless, thank you! There's one more book you could ad: "Grandma Lena's Big 'Ol Turnip" by Denia Lewis Hester and Jackie Urbanovic. My kids loved it.
So a question for you: do you have any recommendations of good (non-woke) biographies of black men or women that my teens (ages 17 and 14) would read? My 17 yr old is a girl who's tired of our surrounding mostly white Christian culture type books and my son is 14 and is in a classical Christian school so I think he'd love anything that isn't ancient or medieval! (He reads things like Eusebius and Herodotus in school, etc.) I really need some ideas!
I'm so glad you've created this forum/substack. It's really necessary and I will spread the word. We need more free thinking black committed Christian moms/wives/women!