Hi Reader,

For the past two weeks, in between watching terrible news reports of what ICE is doing in Minneapolis and hearing from friends on social media about how they're tearing families apart here in Memphis, I've been researching, reading, and writing for a brand-new book list:

​Books for kids and teens about ICE, immigration detention, and speaking up​

When you head to the book list, you'll see that I've divided it up into four categories of books, because it's important to lay a basic foundation with kids first before diving into the news.

1. First, read books about (or discuss) the reasons that people migrate. As anti-bias educator Britt Hawthorne has said, "movement is a pattern, not a crisis." Borders and immigration enforcement are relatively new (in the span of human history), but people have migrated for tens of thousands of years.
2. Next, discuss how massive immigration raids and unfair immigration laws tragically have a long history in the United States.
3. Once you've talked through these two areas, then kids are ready to understand and connect with books that discuss family separation, immigration detention, and deportations.
4. The final category is so important - experiencing stories where immigrants and their allies have resisted unjust laws and worked for fairness.

For each these four categories, I have recommended books for young children through teens. Head here to check out the full book list.​

​I've also created a Family-Friendly Resource Guide to Migration to help you have discussions, learn more, and take action. It's available for Pay What You Can pricing starting at $2. (I don't want cost to be a barrier, so please reply to this email if that's more than you're able to pay.)

The guide includes:

• a kid-friendly glossary of migration terms (two pages full of commonly used but often confusing terms!)
• checklist of 45 recommended books for ages 3 to 16 (many more than the books the post I share above.)
• conversation tips to help adults get started talking with kids
• ways families can take action together

$2.00 Immigration resource guide This family-friendly resource guide will help you learn about migration and take action for immigrant rights! Includes:... Read more Get the resource guide

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With solidarity and hope,

Rebekah

P.S. It's so important that we talk about the present moment as part of a pattern of unfair treatment of immigrants throughout U.S. history. If you missed my last email, this month I'm donating 25% of the proceeds of From the Margins to the Center: A People's History of the United States Told Through Children's Books, to Vecindarios 901, the leading group responding to the immigration crackdown here in Memphis.

Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza |