Category: Books

Children’s Book: “Welcome Home Little Baby” (multiracial)

Here’s another book by Lisa Harper. Based on a poem she wrote immediately after the arrival of their first adopted child, this story is perfect for anyone who has adopted or is going to adopt. I have to admit that I was disappointed with this book. While it is a darling poem, the book is SHORT. I read “I’m the Luckiest Mommy” first (I ordered them together) and this book had half the pages…well, actually it had the same number of pages but half of them were left BLANK. I called the publisher and they said it was not missing any pages. I still didn’t believe it and contacted the illustrator Sandra Martin (who by the way did a wonderful job) and again, she confirmed it wasn’t missing any pages. Disappointing. I guess if I were an adoptive mommy, it wouldn’t matter…I would just be thrilled to have a book about adoption that reflected my family. So, you might want to add this one to your collection.

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Children’s Book: The Luckiest Mommy (multiracial)

This is such an adorable book! I love that it shows a white mom and brown daughter! The author, Lisa Harper, based the book on a silly song she sang to her daughters. My youngest daughter LOVES it! One of the things that I really like is the book can be for adoptive families or interracial families! A pet peeve of mine is when every book that shows a multiracial family is ABOUT being a multiracial family. Can’t someone just make some books that REFLECT multiracial families and are just everyday, fun books? Lisa Harper has done just that with this adorable book. There aren’t many out there, if you know of others, let me know! You WILL want to add this to your collection.

Children’s Book: “Spork” by Kyo Maclear

Spork

by Kyo Maclear

Another great book!

His mum is a spoon. His dad is a fork. And he’s a bit of both. He’s Spork! Spork sticks out in the regimented world of the cutlery drawer. The spoons think he’s too pointy, while the forks find him too round. He never gets chosen to be at the table at mealtimes until one day a very messy ? thing arrives in the kitchen who has never heard of cutlery customs. Will Spork finally find his place at the table? This “multi-cutlery” tale is a humorous and lively commentary on individuality and tolerance. Its high-spirited illustrations capture the experience and emotions of anyone who has ever wondered about their place in the world.

Here’s a detailed review on Amazon. Add to your multicultural collection, BUY HERE!

A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice

Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice (click on the link to download for FREE) is another great publication produced by Teaching Tolerance. The four part book is broken down by age group: Preschool Years, Elementary & Preteen Years, The Teen Years and Part 4: Reflecting Upon Our Own Biases.  LOTS of great information!

Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry

SPEAK UP!

Your brother routinely makes anti-Semitic comments. Your neighbor uses the N-word in casual conversation. Your co-worker ribs you about your Italian surname, asking if you’re in the mafia. Your classmate insults something by saying, “That’s so gay.”

And you stand there, in silence, thinking, “What can I say in response to that?” Or you laugh along, uncomfortably. Or, frustrated or angry, you walk away without saying anything, thinking later, “I should have said something.”

People spoke about encounters in stores and restaurants, on streets and in schools. They spoke about family, friends, classmates and co-workers. They spoke about what they did or didn’t say — and what they wished they did or didn’t say.

And no matter the location or relationship, the stories echo each other.

Speak Up! is a book that shares love, insight and pain, but also offers “lost words”, practical solutions and hope for a better tomorrow.

Download your free copy of SPEAK UP!

Another great resource offered by Teaching Tolerance.

Poem: “On my applications” (biracial)

Here’s another great poem from Arnold Adoff that was in the book All the Colors of the Race that I featured yesterday.

On my applications

by Arnold Adoff

On my applications   I can

                               put:

this girl:

          a black,

             white,

Christian,

Jewish,

            young

            woman:

                 student,

                 musician,

singer,

dancer,

runner    in the middle distance races,

                 is willing to help you

                 if you take her as she

                                             is.

Poem: “The lady said” (biracial)

Here is a tiny treasure that I found in the library this summer. A book of poems, All the Colors of the Race, written by Arnold Adoff. Based on his own interracial family, Adoff writes from the perspective of his biracial (black/white) daughter, which I find very interesting. At first I was a bit thrown off because I generally prefer poetry to rhyme, however, his style is considered “free verse” poetry. The more I read (and re-read) them, the more I fall in love with them! I hope you do too.

The lady said

by Arnold Adoff

The lady said:       what are you going to

                                                 be

                                when you grow

                                all the way up?

And I said:      a woman.

And she said.     No. I mean what are

                                          you

                                          now?

And I said:   a girl.

And she said:   No. I mean what do you call

                                        yourself?

And I said:   Honey. Baby. Sweet

                                       potato

                                       pie

                                       face me.

If she finds it hard,

                     I find it easy

     to make it hard for her.