What is Books for Our Children?
Books for Our Children is a weekly newsletter that highlights culturally affirmative children’s literature.
The books featured in this newsletter represent what I consider to be some of the most outstanding in their affirmation of the experiences of children of color, their cultures, heritage, and everyday experiences. Whenever possible, I have worked to identify books that are written and illustrated by people of color. In evaluating the merit of the written text, I was particularly interested in books with strong characters, eloquent prose or poetry. Many of the stories describe day-to-day events and activities in the lives of their characters but do so in a way that is compelling or entertaining. Many of stories focus on family relationships. I have made a special effort to identify books that depict strong, loving relationships between men (fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc.) and the children in their lives, as these narratives are often absent from the mainstream.
The illustrations in the books selected are very important to the overall feel of each book. Children are exposed to little art in our society, for many, book illustrations serve as their only regular exposure to art. Therefore, I have tried to incorporate books that are illustrated using an assortment of media (paint, watercolors, collages, pen and ink, etc.) realized in a wide variety of artistic styles. Many of the books, although written for children, can stand alone as works of art and may serve as lovely additions to the decor of any home.
I have worked closely with content experts, who have evaluated books intended for children of a wide range of cultural backgrounds, to ensure that the content selected is affirming cultures of which I may not be directly familiar. In addition, I have consulted with children’s librarians in the greater Los Angeles area and reviewed book lists and recommendations complied by the public libraries of New York, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Miami, Honolulu, and Los Angeles.
Finally, it is my goal to not only support and encourage adults to read with the children in their lives, but I hope to elevate libraries, ethnic minority-owned independent bookstores, and community-based literacy programs through this newsletter. Public libraries play a vital role in the fabric of our communities, providing far more than just books. They are hubs for access to all variety of information and strengthen our communities, providing spaces to grow, learn, and build community. Independent, minority-owned bookstores offer unique spaces that elevate the voices of authors who may not receive the attention they deserve in mainstream outlets. Finally, as this newsletter grows, I hope to call attention to, and support for grassroots literacy programs across the county that encourage reading in some of our most vulnerable, and often isolated communities. More to come as the newsletter evolves.
Each newsletter will feature several books centered around a specific theme. Links to author and illustrator websites are provided, so that you can learn more about them and the work they do. The newsletters will also take you Beyond the Book. Here you will find a wide range of information, including recommended reading for adults, activities related to the book, and more. This content is intended to enrich the experience of reading a given book, and to provide opportunities to bring your reading to life.
As a subscriber, you will receive one post weekly in your email inbox. All content described above is free and will always be free. Please feel free to share this newsletter with family, friends, colleagues, teachers, librarians, and anyone you think might find it useful.
This newsletter is dedicated to all of the writers and artists who enrich our lives and the lives of our children through their work.
Content Experts
Dr. Rita Suh serves as the Co-Director for the Culture and Equity Project and is an adjunct professor at CSU Long Beach in the Department of Teacher Education and Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling. She has held many roles: classroom teacher, intervention teacher, literacy coach, educational therapist, and special projects TOSA.
As a result of her many roles, she has garnered expertise in teacher training, building professional relationships, increasing engagement, and helping teachers use culturally and linguistically responsive instructional approaches to maximize student achievement and opportunity for all students. Dr. Suh has been a reviewer for American Educational Research Association (AERA) and has presented research and professional development for districts, universities, and research and teaching conferences.
Angela Pramasdwita was born and raised in Surabaya, Indonesia, and has a Master’s in Developmental Psychology. She was a fellow of the Community Engagement Exchange Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which is a leadership exchange program in the United States. During her fellowship, she partnered with the Culture and Equity Project at UCLA Center X and worked in elementary schools. Her career goal is to become a teacher, specifically to work at an international school in Indonesia.
Why subscribe?
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
