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.
Dr. King's birthday: books & resources
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Hi Reader, My goodness, the first two weeks of 2026 have already felt like a year's worth of burdens to bear. I'm guessing you may also be feeling exhausted. Please know that you are not alone. There are so many people of goodwill who are resisting injustice right now. I hope that gives you some encouragement. In this email I have two sets of resources for you. First, a new blog post for Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday with tips, common mistakes to avoid, activity ideas, and children's book recommendations (including books for younger teens.) Teaching truthfully about Dr. King, without sugarcoating his message - or the widepsread opposition to his work among white peole - is so important in this moment.
Second, I know many of you are thinking about how to talk to children and youth about ICE and the terror they are causing throughout the United States. Here are a few resources I have collected: 📚 This list of children's books about immigrants and refugees. For talking about ICE and immigration enforcement, I especially recommend the following titles:
⭐ This post by Mamas Matter Here offers guidance on how to support children who've witnessed ICE violence. ➡️ These tips for talking with younger children about ICE by Woke Kindergarten provides connection points kids can relate to. 💡 Britt Hawthorne shares 5 things she teaches her children about ICE (good for tweens and teens) Sending you so much love and encouragement, 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, The right of every child to attend school seems pretty straight forward, right? It's easy to forget how many generations of people had to fight racism, ableism, and anti-immigrant prejudice in order to enroll their children in public school. It's important to honor all the many different groups of people who've fought for their right to education. We shouldn't consider this a fight that's been won once and for all, either. Under the Trump administration, the Education Department...
Hi Reader, How is your March going? Mine feels like it's moving at lightening speed. If you keep losing track of time like I do, you might not realize that Passover begins in just a few weeks on April 1, and Easter is April 5. (In the Eastern Orthodox church, Easter will be celebrated on April 12.) If you want to learn about or celebrate either of these sacred times with the kids in your life, I've just updated my children's book lists for both holidays. Children's books about Passover: This...
Hi Reader, My friends and family know that I love crafting almost as much as I love reading. If there's not a book in my hand, it might be because I'm holding knitting needles. (I also find knitting is great for soothing my ADHD, especially when I have to sit still and listen for long periods of time.) So, why has it taken me so long to create a children's book list of stories that feature knitting, sewing, quilting, and weaving? I had so much fun pulling together this list of picture books...