Kwame Alexander popped up at our school! 🙌🏽 Kwame Alexander

In 2018, Mr. Kwame Alexander said he wanted to pop up at schools to meet up with students! I commented on his post and from there was a thread of messages with him and his folks to come! 🔥

I was first introduced to his work as I looked for books that would interest my son, Bryson. My son loves basketball 🏀 and I thought hmmmm…basketball + verse…a win! And B loved it! He read The Crossover and The Rebound as well. He was so engaged and talking about the books with me. Of course, I read them too! 🙌🏽 📚💁🏽‍♀️

Bringing Mr. Kwame Alexander to our school was a big hit! He pulled up in a huge bus and our kids were so excited. A star came to our school ⭐️! We couldn’t keep his books on the shelves! That’s what it’s about! The fact that he gave his time meant so much to our students!

Happy Poetry Month!

#poetry #happypoetry #poems #books #thecrossover #rebound #school #books

I read this article, “Why Adults Should Read Children’s Books,” by Katherine Rundell published by @bbc I pulled out these pieces of the article that spoke to me. Like this one:

If you want to see more of what spoke to me follow me on Instagram.

I added a statement that is true to me and possibly other folks who may have grown up in spaces, especially in schools, not seeing themselves in books. That says something. The statement I added was:

Children’s books can allow adults to see their child-like selves in the books. When as a child they may not have.

An addition to the article should be that throughout history— authors, specifically authors of color, have been writing books for a long time without having the publishing door being opened to them. That our words and illustrations have been suppressed—therefore unable to enter into the children’s book market. There are generations of children who identify as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Color who didn’t have the representation in books as children—there stories weren’t on the shelves.

Although, yes, we have made some progress in this area and I’m a collector of inclusive books for children, young adults and adults of all ages written in own voices, we still have a ways to go.

Until then, I will keep reading, loving, and sharing books, especially books written by those who are marginalized and their words are being suppressed.

Keep reading those children’s books! Read banned books! 📕

🤟🏽🫱🏾‍🫲🏽,
Nita, LTB

I went to read aloud to a few Kindergarten and First Grade classes with my sorority. This was such a fun experience. 🩷💚 I even got one of my wonderful 5th grade hosts to capture some pictures! He did great! 📸 (He took about 100 pics 🤪)

The book I read from their library was, Anansi and the Talking Melon. Note: It isn’t a book written in own voices, but the kids love it. They laughed and even helped me read aloud the repetitive sentences.

Before reading, I taught the kids about Anasi the Spider folktales originating from West African & Carribbean culture. I taught them the power of storytelling and when stories are passed down for years they can shift —like the game of telephone. (Sidenote: Some kids didn’t know that game. Gasp! 😮 Play that game during indoor recess or a brain break. It a great game and teaches tons of lessons!)

Brief summary of the book:
Based on tales originating in West Africa and familiar in Caribbean culture, the five-book Anansi the Trickster series is full of slapstick humor and mischief.

When Anansi the Spider gets stuck in a melon, he decides to pass his time by doing what he’s best at—tricking the other animals around him.

When his melon begins “talking”, Elephant is so impressed he decides to take it to show the king. But Anansi can’t resist the opportunity to make jokes at the expense of everyone they meet. Even the King loses his temper over Anansi’s jokes. Was the spider able to free himself?

#folktales #booksbooksbooks #booksonbooksonbooks #childrensbooks #AnansitheSpider #readmorebooks #booksforkids #africanfolktales #stories #storytelling