[A] picture book tailor made for the times is The Power of One by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Mike Curato. In this story we see a girl deflated by the unkind words of a boy. But then another child responds to her pain with simple and gentle kindness. That one act plants a seed of hope and …
I recall reading Katherine May’s previous book– Wintering— and getting so much out of it. I have enjoyed recommending it and gifting it to others who have also appreciated it. But now, as I attempt to write this review, I must confess that I am almost speechless. Not only does Katherine’s writing flow like a …
No matter your age, there is value for you in this video of an event hosted by The Brown Bookshelf, a group of authors and illustrators who came together to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers. The Brown Bookshelf is honoured to host the KidLit4BlackLives Rally that took …
I ordered this book around what would have been Bookstore Day in late April and it languished in a stack of to-be-read books until I watched the KidLit4BlackLives Rally—the author was one of the speakers. I pulled it out this morning and was charmed by Ryan and her family; I’m so glad to see that …
As we enter Phase 2, with the hope that this is not just a prelude to slipping back into Phase 1, let us first acknowledge the sadness, sorrow, and grief being felt by all those who have lost loved ones. For more than 100,000 of our fellow Americans there is no Phase 2. For their …
Every morning lately, it seems we wake to a bleaker world than the one we inhabited yesterday. Fortunately, Rebecca Solnit has been keeping an eye out for little pinpricks of light, untold or forgotten kindnesses that quietly continue to make our world a good, compassionate place. From grassroots movements to spontaneous personal sacrifices, Solnit’s subjects …
I’ve been thinking about the whole concept of America being “great,” and wondering what it is, exactly, for which Americans are nostalgic, and what it is about the present that is so frightening for so many people. We know that economic uncertainty creates a backlash against those we perceive as threatening to our well-being. But …
