Blog / children

Poem: "We are talking about" (biracial)

This will be my last poem from Arnold Adoff's book "All the Colors of the Race" that I featured a couple of days ago. There are many more great poems in the book--buy it or check it out from your local library! We are talking about by Arnold Adoff We are talking about                            the ones who pick        their friends                            because of how    black      they act                                                                              or                            because of how    white     they can                                                                              be. Sometimes blackness seems too black for me,                     and whiteness is too     sickly pale;                     and I wish every                                         one were golden from                                                                     the                                                                    sun.                          Golden from the                                                    inside                                                 out.
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Children's Book: "Peanut Butter Brother" (Interracial)

I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother by Selina Alko Interracially married, author/illustrator Selina Alko came up with the idea for this book while pregnant with her first child. She wondered what the child might look like--and created a darling children's book that reflects the many possibilities.

Big Brother wonders whether the new baby will look like him. He blends from semisweet dark Daddy chocolate bar and strawberry cream Mama's milk. He's the baby's peanut butter big-brother-to-be. Will the baby's hair look like big brother's soft, crunchy billows of cotton candy, or Noel's string beans locked this way and that, or Akira's puffy head of broccoli flowerets? Will the baby's eyes match big brother's--hot cocoa footballs set wide apart--or will they be a perfect pair of pennies?  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the illustrations! This will be a favorite in our home for sure! Order here.

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Music: "Free to be You and Me"

[audio=http://icelebratediversity.com/freetobeyouandme.mp3] A couple days ago my 15 year old daughter called me in to watch a new back to school commercial from Target. "Listen to the song in the commercial!", she said. She recognized one of her favorite childhood songs, "Free to be You and Me". If you aren't familiar with the song, I have included the song above. These songs used to be on Sesame Street when I was a kid and are still very relevant today--your kids will LOVE them! What I love most about the songs are they are positive, encouraging and free of sterotypes based on gender, class and race. The cd is on Amazon for just $7.98 (5 star review) and all of the songs are available for preview. This cd would be a great gift to keep on-hand for both boys and girls! Some of our favorite songs have been, "Boy Meets Girl" (below), "Parents are People", "It's Alright to Cry" and "William Wants a Doll". What are yours? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUpLiJfV4_A&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0]
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Poem: "No Difference" by Shel Silverstein

I spent many hours as a child loving Shel Silverstein's book of poems, Where the Sidewalk Ends. This was definitely one of my favorites:

No Difference

by Shel Silverstein

Small as a peanut

Big as a giant,

We're all the same size

When we turn off the light.

Red, black or orange,

Yellow or white

We all look the same

When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way

To make everything right

Is for God to just reach out

And turn off the light!

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Children's Book: "The Rabbits' Wedding" by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding is, hands down, my youngest daughters favorite book. It has been as far back as I can remember. It's a sweet story about two little rabbits, one white and the other black, who fall in love and want to be together forever. The illustrations are darling! Garth Williams is famous for illustrating many books, two of the most notable are Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web. Here's a favorite page that always produces laughs:

Interestingly, the book was banned in several places during the 1960's for fear that it was "brainwashing" children into thinking integration/interracial marriage was good. Sweet message + darling illustrations = priceless! BUY IT HERE!

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Video: Children see, children do

 

A reminder.

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Children's Book: "Mother's Day" (multiracial)

Mother's Day by Anne Rockwell

In my constant endeavor to find books that reflect diversity, I ran across this great book by author Anne Rockwell. I thought the timing couldn’t be more perfect! Mother’s Day is set in Mrs. Madoff’s class where children (reflecting different cultures and ethnicities) discuss the different ways they will celebrate the holiday, making breakfast, hiking, snuggling, etc. The children were asked to bring in a button for class that they use in making a special tissue paper flower for mom (bonus: instructions are included). I enjoyed many things about the book (illustrations are darling) but I especially liked that a single mother is represented along with a grandmother raising her granddaughter. The children and mothers spent lots of time picking out their button and had little stories about why they chose their particular button. Mom’s didn’t know what the button was for and were surprised that it was to make a flower. Really sweet book! Buy your copy here! Do you have any books to share?

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