Text Set for
Children of Color
pg. 3
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/our-gracie-aunt_1.jpg)
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2002. Our Gracie Aunt. New York: Hyperion Books for Children/Jump at the Sun
When their mother cannot take care of them, Beebee and Johnson are taken to Aunt Gracie's house. A social worker comes and takes them to meet their Aunt Gracie. Beebee barely remembers her, and Mama never even told Johnson about her. Although they feel loved by Aunt Gracie, they miss their mother and worry about when they will see her. Johnson and his sister, Beebee, seem to be all alone in the world since living at Aunt Gracie's house. Although, their mama has gone away many times before, this time something tells them that she won't be coming back. They wonder where she's been all this time--and why she would want to take care of them. Warily, though, the children begin to trust Aunt Gracie. And in the process, they come to a better understanding of what it means to be a family.
When their mother cannot take care of them, Beebee and Johnson are taken to Aunt Gracie's house. A social worker comes and takes them to meet their Aunt Gracie. Beebee barely remembers her, and Mama never even told Johnson about her. Although they feel loved by Aunt Gracie, they miss their mother and worry about when they will see her. Johnson and his sister, Beebee, seem to be all alone in the world since living at Aunt Gracie's house. Although, their mama has gone away many times before, this time something tells them that she won't be coming back. They wonder where she's been all this time--and why she would want to take care of them. Warily, though, the children begin to trust Aunt Gracie. And in the process, they come to a better understanding of what it means to be a family.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/i-love-my-hair_1.jpg)
Tarpley, Natasha Anastasia. 1998. I Love My Hair. New York: Books For Young Readers
In Tarpley's gracefully told story, a young African American heroine celebrates her lovely head of hair as part of her heritage. Each evening, Keyana's mother lovingly combs out her tangles before bed and, when it hurts, Mama assures her that she is very lucky to have such hair ""because it's beautiful and you can wear it in any style you choose."" Lewis's (Creativity; Staying Cool) realistic watercolors take fanciful flight as parent and child describe what can be done with the girl's locks: braids at the top of Keyana's head become hoed rows of vegetables in a field behind her as Mama explains that she can ""plant rows of braids along your scalp, the way we plant seeds in our garden""; and, pictured against the night sky, the child's Afro-styled hair metamorphoses into an image of the earth as she notes that, when she lets it ""go any which-way it pleases,"" her hair surrounds her head ""like a globe."" But the style also has historical importance, for, as her teacher tells her, ""wearing an Afro was a way... to stand up for what they believed."" Together, author and artist impart a reassuring message for all children about the importance of appreciating what they look like as part of who they are. Ages 3-6.
In Tarpley's gracefully told story, a young African American heroine celebrates her lovely head of hair as part of her heritage. Each evening, Keyana's mother lovingly combs out her tangles before bed and, when it hurts, Mama assures her that she is very lucky to have such hair ""because it's beautiful and you can wear it in any style you choose."" Lewis's (Creativity; Staying Cool) realistic watercolors take fanciful flight as parent and child describe what can be done with the girl's locks: braids at the top of Keyana's head become hoed rows of vegetables in a field behind her as Mama explains that she can ""plant rows of braids along your scalp, the way we plant seeds in our garden""; and, pictured against the night sky, the child's Afro-styled hair metamorphoses into an image of the earth as she notes that, when she lets it ""go any which-way it pleases,"" her hair surrounds her head ""like a globe."" But the style also has historical importance, for, as her teacher tells her, ""wearing an Afro was a way... to stand up for what they believed."" Together, author and artist impart a reassuring message for all children about the importance of appreciating what they look like as part of who they are. Ages 3-6.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/kitchendance_1.jpg)
Manning, Maurie. 2008. Kitchen Dance. New York: Clarion Books
A little girl wakes in the night to mysterious, inviting noises. She rouses her brother, and they sneak downstairs and peek into the kitchen. To their amazement and delight, their parents are dancing and singing---"?Como te quiero! Oh, how I love you!" ---as they clean up and put food away. Mama and Papa discover the two kids and sweep them into the embrace of a family dance. Slowly, the song changes to a lullaby. . . the children close sleepy eyes. . . then Mama and Papa tuck them into bed again. The story reads like poetry. The art moves from subdued tones to hot tropical colors and back again. And as you turn the pages, you can almost hear the music---changing from a pop ballad to a hot tango to a cozy lullaby. All in all, it's a perfect bedtime book, with a satisfying hugs-and-kisses ending.
A little girl wakes in the night to mysterious, inviting noises. She rouses her brother, and they sneak downstairs and peek into the kitchen. To their amazement and delight, their parents are dancing and singing---"?Como te quiero! Oh, how I love you!" ---as they clean up and put food away. Mama and Papa discover the two kids and sweep them into the embrace of a family dance. Slowly, the song changes to a lullaby. . . the children close sleepy eyes. . . then Mama and Papa tuck them into bed again. The story reads like poetry. The art moves from subdued tones to hot tropical colors and back again. And as you turn the pages, you can almost hear the music---changing from a pop ballad to a hot tango to a cozy lullaby. All in all, it's a perfect bedtime book, with a satisfying hugs-and-kisses ending.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/howmanystars_1.jpg)
Hort, Lenny. 1997. How Many Stars in the Sky? New York : Harper Collins
Mama's away one night, and her son can't sleep. He tries to relax by counting stars, but the more of them he sees, the more determined he is to count every single one. Then the boy finds that Daddy can't sleep either. Together, the two of them set off on an unforgettable all-night journey of discovery.
Mama's away one night, and her son can't sleep. He tries to relax by counting stars, but the more of them he sees, the more determined he is to count every single one. Then the boy finds that Daddy can't sleep either. Together, the two of them set off on an unforgettable all-night journey of discovery.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/thunderrose_1.jpg)
Nolen, Jerdine. 2003. Thunder Rose. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers
Coming into the world one stormy night, Thunder Rose, heroine of this original tall tale, is the first child "born free and easy" to her African-American parents, who (an author's note implies) have transplanted themselves from slavery in the South to settle the frontiers of the Old West. Rose demonstrates extraordinary talents even as a newborn: "She took hold of that lightning, rolled it into a ball, and set it above her shoulder, while the thunder echoed out over the other." She turns out to have an aptitude for bending wire and scrap metal; among other developments in this episodic narrative, Rose constructs a thunderbolt from scrap iron and invents barbed wire. Nolen's kicky regional dialect is the high point right outside of Caldwell, that irascible, full-of-outrage-and-ire outlaw Jesse Baines and his gang of desperadoes tried to rustle that herd away from Rose.... [She] lassoed those hot-tempered hooligans up good and tight"). Unfortunately, her packed plot slows the rhythms of her fun writing style. Even for the tall tale genre, there is too much going on, and a message at the end, about the thunder in Rose's heart and what happens when she calls forth the music that resides there, makes for a rambling denouement. Throughout, Nelson's oil, watercolor and pencil compositions endow Rose's larger-than-life feats with verve. Notes of humor, warmth and rustic detail vie for attention in his bright-blue, big-sky scenes. Ages 5-8.
Coming into the world one stormy night, Thunder Rose, heroine of this original tall tale, is the first child "born free and easy" to her African-American parents, who (an author's note implies) have transplanted themselves from slavery in the South to settle the frontiers of the Old West. Rose demonstrates extraordinary talents even as a newborn: "She took hold of that lightning, rolled it into a ball, and set it above her shoulder, while the thunder echoed out over the other." She turns out to have an aptitude for bending wire and scrap metal; among other developments in this episodic narrative, Rose constructs a thunderbolt from scrap iron and invents barbed wire. Nolen's kicky regional dialect is the high point right outside of Caldwell, that irascible, full-of-outrage-and-ire outlaw Jesse Baines and his gang of desperadoes tried to rustle that herd away from Rose.... [She] lassoed those hot-tempered hooligans up good and tight"). Unfortunately, her packed plot slows the rhythms of her fun writing style. Even for the tall tale genre, there is too much going on, and a message at the end, about the thunder in Rose's heart and what happens when she calls forth the music that resides there, makes for a rambling denouement. Throughout, Nelson's oil, watercolor and pencil compositions endow Rose's larger-than-life feats with verve. Notes of humor, warmth and rustic detail vie for attention in his bright-blue, big-sky scenes. Ages 5-8.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/tarbeach_1.jpg)
Ringgold, Faith. 1996. Tar Beach. Oklahoma : Dragonfly Books
recounts the dream adventure of eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-building rooftop, the ‘tar beach’ of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacular artwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in the universal dream of mastering one’s world by flying over it. A practical and stunningly beautiful book.
recounts the dream adventure of eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-building rooftop, the ‘tar beach’ of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacular artwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in the universal dream of mastering one’s world by flying over it. A practical and stunningly beautiful book.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/we-had-a-picnic-this-sunday-past_2.jpg)
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past. New York City : Jump at the Sun
Teeka's family had a picnic this Sunday past. Everyone was there, from mean old cousin Terrance who put fake flies on the sweet corn, to Bible-toting Reverend Luke to Auntie Kim (Teeka's all-time favorite). And they were all dreading the arrival of Cousin Martha and her pie, which was always a bit on the dry side (but you had to eat every bit so you didn't hurt her feelings). But this year, where was Cousin Martha? And where was that dried-out apple pie?
Jacqueline Woodson's warm, lyrical prose and Diane Greenseid's exuberant artwork bring to life the humor, love, and of course, the wonderful food of the quintessential family picnic.
Teeka's family had a picnic this Sunday past. Everyone was there, from mean old cousin Terrance who put fake flies on the sweet corn, to Bible-toting Reverend Luke to Auntie Kim (Teeka's all-time favorite). And they were all dreading the arrival of Cousin Martha and her pie, which was always a bit on the dry side (but you had to eat every bit so you didn't hurt her feelings). But this year, where was Cousin Martha? And where was that dried-out apple pie?
Jacqueline Woodson's warm, lyrical prose and Diane Greenseid's exuberant artwork bring to life the humor, love, and of course, the wonderful food of the quintessential family picnic.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/lizard-from-the-park_1.jpg)
Pett, Mark. 2015. Lizard From The Park. New York: Simon & Schuster
A lonely boy’s new pet grows into a rather large dilemma—and a Thanksgiving parade offers an uplifting solution—in this charming tale from the author of The Boy and the Airplane and The Girl and the Bicycle. When Leonard takes a shortcut through the park, he finds an egg and takes it home, where it hatches into a lizard (or so Leonard thinks). Leonard names his new pet Buster and takes him all around the city: on the subway, to the library, to a baseball game, and more. But Buster keeps growing and growing—and Leonard gets the sense that Buster is longing for something Leonard can’t provide. Before long, Buster becomes too big to keep, and Leonard realizes he needs to set Buster free. So Leonard comes up with an inventive plan, one that involves all the balloons Leonard can find and the annual Thanksgiving parade, in an imaginative plot twist that will spark readers’ imaginations—and touch their hearts.
A lonely boy’s new pet grows into a rather large dilemma—and a Thanksgiving parade offers an uplifting solution—in this charming tale from the author of The Boy and the Airplane and The Girl and the Bicycle. When Leonard takes a shortcut through the park, he finds an egg and takes it home, where it hatches into a lizard (or so Leonard thinks). Leonard names his new pet Buster and takes him all around the city: on the subway, to the library, to a baseball game, and more. But Buster keeps growing and growing—and Leonard gets the sense that Buster is longing for something Leonard can’t provide. Before long, Buster becomes too big to keep, and Leonard realizes he needs to set Buster free. So Leonard comes up with an inventive plan, one that involves all the balloons Leonard can find and the annual Thanksgiving parade, in an imaginative plot twist that will spark readers’ imaginations—and touch their hearts.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/summersunrisin_1.jpg)
Nikola-Lisa, W. 2002. Summer Sun Risin'. New York : Lee & Low Books
An African American boy enjoys a summer day on his family's farm, milking the cows, fishing, and having fun. Starting early in the morning, a young boy helps his father and mother care for the animals and crops around the farm. Children learn about a wide variety of farm animals and the different buildings and machines found on a farm. This lovely book gets children intrigued about life on a farm.
An African American boy enjoys a summer day on his family's farm, milking the cows, fishing, and having fun. Starting early in the morning, a young boy helps his father and mother care for the animals and crops around the farm. Children learn about a wide variety of farm animals and the different buildings and machines found on a farm. This lovely book gets children intrigued about life on a farm.
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/6/5/98652012/published/lola-reads-to-leo_1.jpeg)
McQuinn. Anna. 2012. Lola Reads to Leo. Watertown: Charlesbridge
We all know how much Lola loves books. In this third book in the Lola series (LOLA AT THE LIBRARY and LOLA LOVES STORIES), Lola has a new baby brother and she can’t wait to share her love of reading with him. Lola gets ready for little Leo’s arrival by reading books about brothers and sisters and picking out the perfect stories that she just knows her little brother will love. Even when her mom’s tummy gets "bigger and bigger," and even when she’s tired, Mom makes sure there is time for Lola and her stories. When the baby is finally here, Lola takes on the role of big sister—she helps her mommy and daddy around the house and tells Leo stories to cheer him up when he cries. LOLA READS TO LEO proves that it’s never too early to become a reader!
We all know how much Lola loves books. In this third book in the Lola series (LOLA AT THE LIBRARY and LOLA LOVES STORIES), Lola has a new baby brother and she can’t wait to share her love of reading with him. Lola gets ready for little Leo’s arrival by reading books about brothers and sisters and picking out the perfect stories that she just knows her little brother will love. Even when her mom’s tummy gets "bigger and bigger," and even when she’s tired, Mom makes sure there is time for Lola and her stories. When the baby is finally here, Lola takes on the role of big sister—she helps her mommy and daddy around the house and tells Leo stories to cheer him up when he cries. LOLA READS TO LEO proves that it’s never too early to become a reader!