In honor of Pride Month and support of the LGBTQIA+ community KennedyElizabeth will be reading "Rainbow: A First Book of Pride". In this beautiful book we learn about the color of the rainbow flag and its meaning.

Written on Amazon

A must-have primer for young readers and a great gift for pride events and throughout the year, beautiful colors all together make a rainbow in Rainbow: A First Book of Pride.
This is a sweet ode to rainbow families, and an affirming display of a parent's love for their child and a child's love for their parents. With bright colors and joyful families, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and reveals the colorful meaning behind each rainbow stripe in a simple and engaging format for young readers. Readers will celebrate the life, healing, light, nature, harmony, and spirit that the rainbows in this book will bring.

https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-First-Michael-Genhart-PhD/dp/1433830876/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4GNGT77DNS27&keywords=rainbow+a+first+book+of+pride+by+michael+genhart&qid=1687669832&sprefix=Rainbow%3A+A+frist+book+of+%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1

To kick off Women's History Month, KennedyElizabeth will be reading "Little People, Big Dreams: Zaha Hadid" by Sanchez Vegar.  A story about how Zaha Hadid  grew up to become a well known architect all around the globe.

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When Zaha Hadid was a little girl, she grew up in Baghdad, Iraq surrounded by music. She was a curious and confident child, who designed her own modernist bedroom at nine years old. As a young woman studying at University in Beirut, she was described as the most outstanding pupil the teacher had ever met. With her spectacular vision and belief in the power of architecture, she founded her own firm and designed some of the most outstanding buildings in the world – including the London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the architect's life.

https://www.amazon.com/Zaha-Hadid-Little-People-DREAMS/dp/1786037440/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15PPKK2F73OQH&keywords=%22Little+People%2C+Big+Dreams%3A+Zaha+Hadid%22+by+Isabel+Sanchez+Vegar&qid=1675635306&sprefix=little+people%2C+big+dreams+zaha+hadid+by+isabel+sanchez+vegar%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

To bring a close to this year's Black History Month I am reading a book that I think all children and especially black children should read.  This book inspires children to be who their are and strive to achieve their best.

Written on Amazon

In the spirit of I Am Enough, this is a moving and lyrical tribute to and affirmation of Black children around the world—by an exciting new author and illustrator team.

Dear Black Child,

We are here to remind you of your glory…

An inspiring love letter to Black children from all cultures, this book is a celebration of their beauty, joy, and resilience.

Dear Black Child is a story of self-acceptance, love, and empowerment for Black immigrant children and families of the diaspora around the world and features joyful and vibrant illustrations.

https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Black-Child-Rahma-Rodaah/dp/0063091976/ref=sr_1_1?crid=140TI51OPYVNP&keywords=Dear+Black+Child&qid=1677474497&sprefix=dear+black+child%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

In honor of Black History Month I have read "Follow the Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter.  This story teaches us how the slaves knew where to go and when it was a good time to escape their slave masters.

Written on Amazon

Illus. in full color. "Winter's story begins with a peg-leg sailor who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. While working for plantation owners, Peg Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd (the Big Dipper). A couple, their son, and two others make their escape by following the song's directions. Rich paintings interpret the strong story in a clean, primitive style enhanced by bold colors. The rhythmic compositions have an energetic presence that's compelling. A fine rendering of history in picturebook format."--(starred) Booklist.

https://www.amazon.com/Follow-Drinking-Gourd-Jeanette-Winter/dp/0679819975/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NW4T0ASMTUN1&keywords=follow+the+drinking+gourd&qid=1675634967&sprefix=follow+the+drinking+gourd%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

It's Groundhog Day!!!  Here is a story gives us the origin and history of Groundhog Day.

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Will he see his shadow? Will spring come early or late? But most importantly-- what does a groundhog have to do with the weather?

https://www.amazon.com/Groundhog-Day-Updated-Gail-Gibbons/dp/0823450902/ref=sr_1_2?crid=JHC8FKRWPBNQ&keywords=Groundhog+Day+Gail+Gibbons&qid=1674583057&sprefix=groundhog+day+gail+gibbons%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-2

Happy New Year!!!!

In honor of the Lunar New Year this year I have read Natasha Wing's "The Night Before Lunar New Year with Lingfeng Ho.  This story shows us how one family celebrate this great holiday.  

Written on Amazon

It's the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. She's prepared dumplings with her mom, bought a new dress in Chinatown, and even helped scare mythical beast Nian away with her cousins and brother. There's only one problem: she's a bit nervous about all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears? Find out in the latest installment of the Night Before series, told in the style of Clement C. Moore's classic tale.

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Lunar-New-Year/dp/0593384210/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24LIXOYHKBNPH&keywords=the+night+before+lunar+new+year+by+natasha+wing&qid=1674424950&sprefix=the+night+before+lunar+new+%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1

I continues my annual tradition of reading a book honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on his birthday which also is my birthday.

This book is a beautifully-rendered study of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, told in simple, straightforward language for even the youngest of readers to understand. Pinkney's scratchboard and oil pastel illustrations convey both the strength and gentleness of King's character. Both text and art carry his central message of peace and brotherhood among all people. (Thanks amazon.com)

https://www.amazon.com/Birthday-Martin-Luther-Scholastic-Bookshelf/dp/0439782244/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WC53PWUN8R6N&keywords=happy+birthday%2C+martin+luther+king&qid=1673795532&sprefix=happy+birthday%2C+martin+luther+king%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1

Kennedy reads "Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas" about a family's New Year's Day tradition.  Shanté Keys loves New Year's Day! But while Grandma fixed chitlins, baked ham, greens, and cornbread, she forgot the black-eyed peas! Oh no―it'll be bad luck without them! So Shanté sets out to borrow some from the neighbors.  (Thanks to www.Amazon.com)

https://www.amazon.com/Shante-Keys-New-Years-Peas/dp/0807573310/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JBVN87X6HWH0&keywords=Shante+Keys+and+the+New+Year%27s+Peas&qid=1672613541&sprefix=shante+keys+and+the+new+year%27s+peas%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1

KennedyElizabeth will give you a brief history of Audrey Faye Hendricks who will go down in Civil Right history as the youngest marcher to serve a 7 day jail sentence for marching against school segregation in Birmingham, AL in the 1960s.

Here is in her own words courtesy of Youtube.

https://youtu.be/KslhuOH6sY0

Here is the book written about Hendricks

https://www.amazon.com/Youngest-Marcher-Audrey-Hendricks-Activist/dp/1481400703/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FSXU5KTQEFVM&keywords=the+youngest+marcher&qid=1644163769&sprefix=the+youngest+marcher%2Caps%2C1113&sr=8-1

Neema reads a brief evocative description on Ethel Water an African American television star from the 1930s.

Here is a look at "The Ethel Williams Show" featuring a young Sammy Davis, Jr. courtesy of YouTube.

https://youtu.be/BZx5VJx-FoA