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Kids need honest resources for this anniversary
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Hi Reader, This July will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Now is a great time to start exploring U.S. history during the Revolutionary Era with kids in an honest and inclusive way. Truthfully, I'm on high alert for the propaganda-laced "resources" that kids may be exposed to, with the backing of the White House (I'm looking at you and your AI generated videos, Prager U Kids!) That's why I created a list of great children's books about the founding of the United States from inclusive and honest perspectives. Check out the new blog post for stories including: ✋🏿a brand new picture book by the incomparable Carole Boston Weatherford about how this nation was built by Black hands. 🦅one of my favorite books for older readers about Indigenous history and resistance - lots of info AND pictures in this one. 📖 engaging historical fiction about how enslaved and working class children experienced the tumultuous times of the Revolution. 🏇 a colorful infographic-packed book that unpacks a lot of common myths about early U.S. history (perfect for kids who want to be able to correct the adults in their lives!)
Coming soon: my first-ever summer reading guide! I'm so excited to announce that I'm working on a summer reading guide! It will have book recommendations for 1st grade through 8th grade, with lots of genres to choose from (mystery, laugh-out-lead realistic fiction, fantasy, sci fi, historical fiction, graphic novels, novels-in-verse, and even a little bit of tween-appropriate romance.) Every single book is one I have NOT reviewed anywhere else, which is why in the past 8 days I've read over 3,000 pages of amazing children's books! I'll have more info for you soon about how you can save by pre-ordering the guide while I'm adding the final books to this resource. Happy reading and learning, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice |
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, Over the next 11 days, your family will be exposed to a lot of half-truths and myths about the history of the United States. Celebrating the Declaration of Independence's assertion that "all men are created equal" without acknowledging the same celebrated document talks about how Britain hasn't protected colonists from "the merciless Indian Savages." Upholding the uniqueness of the U.S. Constitution, with no recognition that many of its ideas were taken from the Haudenosaunee...
Hi Reader, This Friday is Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the actual end to slavery, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Historian Jemar Tisby recently referred to Juneteenth as "the counter-narrative to America 250" because it focuses on truth-telling rather than myth-making. My newest blog post has 9 children's books, plus videos, activities, and resources for Juneteenth. Here's what's inside: 🖤a brand new picture book that reads like a love letter...
Hi Reader, I've never met Dr. Debbie Reese, a children's literature scholar who is a member of the Nambé Pueblo nation, but I consider her a mentor. It's been years since I first heard her talk about what happens when you do an internet image search for Native Americans, but I still think about what she shared regularly. Typically, the top images are all of Native people of the past, not the present. This isn't true when you do searches for other racial and ethnic groups. When kids do realize...