Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Autism isn't a tragedy
|
Hi Reader, When I started working on this month's booklist of great children's books by autistic authors, I didn't know that Trump would make a bunch of dubious and dangerous claims about the causes and "cures" of autism right before I published it. As I read the books and wrote the post, I was thinking a lot about Robert F. Kennedy's, Jr.'s offensive comments that autism was a "tragedy," and that most autistic kids wouldn't grow up to contribute anything to society. Rather than understanding autism as a form of difference in how brains and nervous systems work, influential people like RFK have portrayed autistic people as broken and helpess. What's broken are the social systems that make life harder for autistic children and adults and that prevent them from fully thriving. Understanding autistic people’s own experiences and perspectives is essential, so that we know what needs to change. One way to start this process of unlearning stereotypes with our children, whether they are autistic or not, is to read children’s books written by autistic authors. Head to this month's blog post to discover great picture books and chapter books written by autistic authors. You'll find: 🏰 a thrilling medieval-era graphic novel perfect for fans of historical fiction and adventure stories featuring brave girls. 🚂 a picture book that uses train metaphors to teach kids how to notice their friends' social cues. ☮️ a peaceful picture book about a mom who creates a special day for her child where they don't have to use words. 👩🏼🚀 a moving chapter book about a nonverbal space-obsessed girl living in the 1980s who's misunderstood by everyone but her sister.
Happy reading, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | |
Raising antiracist kids
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, If you're in the U.S., you'll likely heard that starting November 1, families will no longer receive SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps) because of the government shutdown. Roughly 1 in 8 Americans rely on SNAP to help feed their families, and the budget bill Congress passed this summer already included major changes to the program that kicked some families out of the program and that will reduce benefits to others. One of the fundamental tests of our morality as a society is...
Hi Reader, The first person to tell me that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza was actually going to be signed was Ameera. (If you're new to my email list, our community has been supporting Ameera, her husband, and her three children for the past year as conditions in Gaza became increasingly horrific.) Just a week before, Ameera and her husband were trying to decide if it was too late to flee Gaza City. Every time I messaged her I was worried there might only be silence on the other end. I'm...
Hi Reader, Indigenous Peoples Day is this Monday. November is Native American Heritage Month. We're about the enter the short time of year when non-Native children are most likely to hear things about Indigenous peoples, especially at school. I'm hopeful this time of year that educators, families, and community groups will take advantage of the growing body of resources for respectfully and accurately learning about Indigenous nations in the present day, as well as their histories. But I'm...