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
|
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, Black History Month starts in just 5 days. Have you thought about how you'll observe it with the children you cherish? If you're looking for books to read, I've got you covered! I've just created a huge list of 30+ picture books (including reads for older elementary learners) that's organized by historical era. You'll also find links in the blog post to even more lists that are perfect for Black History Month, including books on the Harlem Renaiassance, Black inventors and...
Hi Reader, I realized recently that most of the time, I enjoy reading middle grade books more than I enjoy reading books written for adults. There's just something about the blend of sincerity and complexity that makes me love books written for older elementary kids and young teens. In my last blog post of the year, I'm sharing my favorite middle grade books published in 2025, including: ✏️a hilarious book about two 5th grade writing and illustrating rivals, co-written by two of the most...
Hi Reader, It's time to share my favorite picture books that were published this year. This book list (and my favorite chapter books of 2025 list that I'll share next week) is the only one I work on all year-round. My favorite diverse and anti-bias picture books of 2025 Head to the blog post to discover these stories (and many more!) 🌙 An affirming read that celebrates the beautiful and difficult aspects of a girl growing up, perfect for reading snuggled up together at bedtime. 🌍 A story...