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.
On America's 250th, offer kids honest history
|
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 nations who had been practicing democracy for centuries. Boldly ignoring that the same document that formed "the more perfect union" that was the United States only counted enslaved people as 3/5th of a human. These kinds of omissions and half-truths don't just obscure the truth about history; they also help racism and oppression thrive today. If you live in the United States, I hope that as this country approaches our 250th anniversary, you'll take time to explore some honest, inclusive history with your children. It's not always easy to find the right books to help you do that, which is why I created my guide From the Margins to the Center: A People's History of the United States Told through Children's Books. Now through July 7, you can save 20% off From the Margins to the Center AND get a limited time bonus: a kid-friendly playlist of people's history songs. From the Margins to the Center includes in-depth reviews of 240 children's books, with stories for kids as young as 5 years old and as old as 14. It's organized by historical era so that you can easily find what you're looking for. While I first put together From the Margins of the Center when I was creating a homeschool U.S. history plan for my son, it's for ANY family, educator, or community worker who's looking for great historical fiction picture books and novels, as well as engaging, truth-telling non-fiction. The books I've included center the voices of groups that society has marginalized, telling how they have experienced and shaped U.S. history. You'll find books centering:
Here's what's inside the ebook: Book reviews that are broken down by historical period (for example Abolitionism and the Civil War, Progressive Era movements, and the Great Depression.) There are book recommendations for periods as far back as Indigenous history before colonization and as recent as the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth book descriptions about the plot, historical connections, and other details to help you decide whether the book is one your kids will enjoy. Bibliographical information including recommended ages, page numbers for chapter books, dates the book takes place in, whether an audio book is available, and the identities of main character and author. Reading checklists for each time period: As you read through the guide, use these printable checklists for each historical era to note which titles are interesting to you. Then take your checklist to the library or bookstore. I can't wait to see how you'll use this resource with your family, in your classroom, or in your community. Happy learning, Rebekah P.S. TLDR? Now through July 7th, you can save 20% on my guide From the Margins to the Center: A People's History of the United States Told through Children's Books. You'll also get a limited time bonus: a kid-friendly music playlist of people's history songs. Head here to find answers to frequently asked questions about the guide. You can even download sample pages to help you decide if it's right for your family or classroom. 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, Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about changes to my language that I was working on in my effort to be an antiracist parent. One of the language shifts I focused on was abandoning the phrases "good schools" and "bad schools." Kids do pick up on these labels, even if they only hear adults use them when talking to other adults. From there, they form ideas about the children who attend these schools and the neighborhoods the schools are located in. Today, I want to expand on...
Hi Reader, About a month ago, a newsletter reader asked me if I could recommend any books for her preschooler about the history of residential schools for Indigenous children. This is a topic I'd been thinking about addressing, and her email prompted me to pull together a blog post of books about this painful history in both Canada and the United States. You may not be familiar with the residential school era (usually called the boarding school era in the U.S.). This was a period of over 100...
Hi Reader, Because Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of a calendar month, it can be easy to miss. This celebration of heritage, culture, and history begins on September 15th and ends on October 15th. (The beginning date was chosen because several Latin American countries celebrate their independence days on September 15th, 16th, and 18th.) As always, I believe that reading books together is one of the best ways to participate in this celebration. I've updated and expanded...