Dare to Question -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and a small stipend. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jamine Stirling to share this book with you and offer the giveaway.

When you think of the Women's Suffrage Movement in the United States, who do you think of? I am sure names like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton come to mind. Have you heard of Carrie Chapman Catt? It is because of her questions and thinking that we finally got the vote. Today I get to share a new picture book with you about her and her role as a suffragist. The book is Dare to Question: Carrie Chapman Catt's Voice for the Vote by Jasmine A. Stirling and illustrated by Udayana Lugo. It is recommended for ages 5 and up. There is also a giveaway at the end of this post!

Susanna Madora "Dora" Salter -- the World's First Female Mayor

 

Today we continue our celebration of Women's History Month with a look at the world's first female mayor or mayoress. Her name is Susanna Madora Salter. Her name was put on the ballot by some men trying to shut down the women's suffrage movement, but it backfired. Come learn about this amazing woman!

Two New Picture Books Perfect for Black History Month or Any Time

 

Disclosure: I was sent digital copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

February is halfway over and that means so is Black History Month. Have you done anything for Black History Month? Last week I shared a round-up of picture books that won awards and honors in January that were perfect for Black History Month. Today I am going to share two more picture books that are brand new (in 2022). One is about Ida B. Wells and the other is about a conversation about race. Both are very important to teach our kids about. Let's start with Ida B. Wells. The book is Ida B. Wells: Voice of Truth by Michelle Duster, Ida's great-granddaughter and illustrated by Laura Freeman. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

From the Publisher:

Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth is an inspiring picture book biography of the groundbreaking journalist and civil rights activist as told by her great-granddaughter Michelle Duster and illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award Honoree artist Laura Freeman.

Ida B. Wells was an educator, journalist, feminist, businesswoman, newspaper owner, public speaker, suffragist, civil rights activist, and women’s club leader.

She was a founder of the NAACP, the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the Alpha Suffrage Club, and the Negro Fellowship League.

She wrote, spoke, and traveled, challenging the racist and sexist norms of her time.

Faced with criticism and threats to her life, she never gave up.

This is her extraordinary true story, as told by her great-granddaughter Michelle Duster and beautifully brought to life by Coretta Scott King Award Honoree artist Laura Freeman.

From Me:

Have you heard of Ida B. Wells? What do you know about her? Back in 2004 or 2005, I went with a friend to see Constant Star. A good friend of mine volunteered at the theater and we went together. It was my first introduction to Ida B. Wells. At the time when I tried to find out more about Ida, I saw more criticism than positivity. I found more negative and not child friendly stories about her. It made me question her true identity. Of course, I was seeing what white people were writing about a Black woman who fought the system. She spoke up when she saw injustice. She did not go away but fought for equal rights for Black people, for women and more. What was available to me at that time was not the whole story and was biased. Finally, today there is a book that is perfect for sharing Ida's life with young children and it is written by her great-granddaughter. 

The book is wonderful. It shares about Ida's life including how she took care of her siblings when her parents died. She was only sixteen. It shares the injustice she witnessed and that occurred to her. I am sure it is only a fraction of the injustice she truly witnessed but has the emotions that go with witnessing and experiencing it. She witnessed lynching as well as being kicked off a train for not moving to the Colored car. Michelle shares the truth about Ida's tough life and all of her many accomplishments. It is written with love and pride and is a perfect book to introduce the younger kids to this amazing woman. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well. 

Our second book is Why? A Conversation About Race by Taye Diggs and illustrated by Shane W. Evans. This book is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

From the Publisher:

A piercing picture book about racial injustice from a child’s perspective from Taye Diggs and Shane Evans.

"Daddy?"
"Yes, my sweet boy."
"Why are those people shouting?"
"Our people are shouting because we need to be heard. We need to be heard."

Why? is a question asked by children daily, and in this striking and timely story, it begins a straightforward and challenging conversation between children of color and the adults in their lives.

Why are the buildings burning? Why are people marching? Why are they crying? Taye Diggs has written a beautiful, powerful, and poignant story that peers through the eyes of a child as they struggle to understand why these events are happening.

Why? distills the conversations many children and adults are having about race, injustice, and anger in communities throughout our country, and gives them context that young readers can connect with. Heartfelt and deeply piercing illustrations from Shane W. Evans will leave a lasting impact on readers of any age. One that will hopefully lead to more conversations, change, and peace within our own communities and the world.

From Me:

Wow, this book is powerful. Kids ask why a lot through a day, but in our current situation there are many asking why. Why are there riots? Why are they looting and damaging buildings? I have heard these questions in the past year. Have you? This book answers those questions but not exactly how you may expect. After all it was adults asking those questions the past year, and this book is written for young children! The book shows Black/brown children asking family members questions about people and things they see. Why are the people shouting, crying, pointing, etc. The family member answers with answers about the injustice the people have felt because of their skin color. They answer with honesty. They answer with answers we all need to understand so we can truly change our society and its wrongs. Each answer could lead to discussions about current events as well as history. Each answer could lead to discussions with children but also with adults. 

As a white ally I cannot put myself into others' shoes and truly understand what they experience. I can show compassion and empathy for their pains. I can use my white privilege to try to change things. I can show love and kindness for all. This book provides a peek into the emotions and experiences of others. It provides answers to questions I have had, and it shares a bit of understanding. I can see this book read to a group of children ready to discuss race. I can see it used with older kids to begin the discussion as well. I hope you will check it out!

Protest! --Book Review and sharing about some of the Native American protests in the book

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Protest! What comes to mind when you hear the word? There have been so many protests throughout history and many in recent times even during the world pandemic. Some protests are peaceful and some are not, but today's book will focus on peaceful ones. The book is Protest! How People Have Come Together to Change the World by Alice and Emily Haworth-Booth. This book is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

History Smashers Women's Right to Vote

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The other day my husband and I were discussing current events and the differing views in society. We are on opposite sides politically. We were discussing a bit of the discrimination going on in our country. My husband being a white, conservative man is pretty sick of being blamed. I am trying to educate him that part of the problem is he doesn't realize his part in the discrimination and how it is built into our society. We talked about history books. My conservative friends have been posting many things about how awful it is that people don't teach the traditional history any more. I asked him who wrote the history books when we were kids. I asked him which women he learned about in history. He told me the important ones, then he started listing people like Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony. I asked him if he knew who Elizabeth Cady Stanton was. He said no. I used this information and the knowledge from today's book to make my point. In fact today's book let's us know that Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote the official history of the women's suffrage movement before it was over and that is what is taught still today. 

Women and Voting -- Books to Celebrate Election Year and 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Did you know yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment? The 19th Amendment is the one that gives and guarantees women the right to vote. There was a long fight for that vote. Yesterday President Trump pardoned one of the first women who tried to vote and was arrested, Susan B. Anthony. She was released from jail and fined but never paid the fine. Probably not what Ms. Anthony really wanted but it was a nice gesture. Ever since Hazel did a report and had to dress up as Susan B. Anthony in second grade she has had a big interest in the woman's right to vote and the fight that it took to get us there. Today I am going to share a historical fiction novel for middle readers (ages 8-12) that goes back to the Conference at Seneca Falls. I also have an alphabet picture book about voting and rights of United States citizens. Perfect for talking about women's suffrage as well as the big election coming this year. It is suggested for ages 3 to 6. We will start with the picture book.

We Are Power -- a Timely Book for Kids Aged 10-14

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This has been a crazy year. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and then the protests over the death of George Floyd and others began. I know Hazel has been watching the protests and riots with curiosity and questions. Today I am sharing a book about nonviolent activism suggested for kids aged 10-14. This book shares history as well as how nonviolent activism works. The book is We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World by Todd Hasak-Lowy. 

Frederick Douglass

Disclosure: Abrams Books sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 


As we continue our way through Black History Month, I keep finding more and more wonderful books to share with you. Today's is about a famous name, Frederick Douglass. How much do you know about Frederick Douglass? I knew his name and knew he was an escaped slave and abolitionist, but not a whole lot more. The book is Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man by Tonya Bolden. 

Poetry Books for Kids -- Book Reviews

Disclosure: I was sent these books to review free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review.

 Next month (April) is National Poetry Month. Do you ever try to share poetry with your kids? Some poetry is great for kids and others are harder to get them interested in. Today I am going to share two books to share a bit of poetry and hopefully help develop a love of poetry with your kids. The first is from a Poetry for Kids series and the bonus for us is it is about a Massachusetts poet. Hazel's class is looking at the history of Massachusetts currently and has a project to study someone or something from the history. Hazel however did not choose Emily Dickinson liked I hoped. She chose Susan B. Anthony, so we are learning a lot about women's suffrage right now. However we did take time out to read Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson edited by Susan Snively, PhD and illustrated by Christine Davenier. 

Women Inventors

Each year for Women's History Month, I try to find books at the library about different women for Hazel to hear their stories and know the difference women play in history. This year one of our focuses has been on women inventors. I found nine women who invented something and have a book at about Hazel level written on them. Some of these books I have not read yet since they are requested from other libraries and have not arrived, so I am guessing a bit on the levels. I will share a bit about each women in this post: Ruth Wakefield, Grace Hopper, Gertrude Elion, Hedy Lemarr, Martha Coston, Stephanie Kwolek, Margaret Knight, Mary Anderson and Amanda Jones.