African-American Experience Children’s Literary Reference Guide (2010-2015)
We’re in the thick of the month of February now and recently I ran into an interesting problem. It being Black History Month and all I was looking to create a list of Black Experience children’s books for my librarians to pull from for displays and purchasing and such. So I trolled about online looking for a recent list of titles. Don’t get me wrong – I love books like Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, but in spite of the relatively small publishing numbers we really have had some wonderful books come out in the last few years. So I looked about and looked about and found almost nothing. If it’s not an award winner or 20+ years old, it’s hard to find lists of recent books.
So I created my own. I wanted a list of titles from the last five years. Moreover, I didn’t want to limit it to just historical books. So in the end what I came up with was an African-American Experience Literary Reference Guide. This is by NO MEANS an all-encompassing list. It’s just some of the recent things I’ve liked and enjoyed and that we all have a need for. Please note that all listed titles are currently in print. Also, they are organized by where they are cataloged in the New York Public Library system.
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Enjoy and feel free to add your own in-print titles out in the last five years in the comments.
Picture Books
Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier, ISBN: 9780316209175
Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha, illustrated Nicole Tadgell, ISBN: 9780807547823
Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer by Tonya Bolden illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9781419707926
My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9780670012855
Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by Don Tate, ISBN: 9781570917004
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780399233425
Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers, ISBN: 9780399166150
A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780399252846
Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9780312603267
Underground by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9781250056757
We March by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9781596435391
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin, illustrated Vanessa Brantley-Newton, ISBN: 9781600608469
My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, ISBN: 9780761458104
My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9780810983281
Lullaby (For a Black Mother) by Langston Hughes, illustrated Sean Qualls, ISBN: 9780547362656
Goal! by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by A.G. Ford, ISBN: 9780763658229
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, ISBN: 9780689873768
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, ISBN: 9780803735118
We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, ISBN: 9781423119548
Hope’s Gift by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated Don Tate, ISBN: 9780399160011
Tea Cakes for Tosh by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, ISBN: 9780399252136
Ellen’s Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter, ISBN: 9780399250033
Every Little Thing: Based on the Song ‘Three Little Birds’ by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, ISBN: 9781452106977
One Love by Cedella Marley, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, ISBN: 9781452102245
These Hands by Margaret H. Mason, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780547215662
Busing Brewster by Richard Michelson, illustrated by R.G. Roth, ISBN: 9780375833342
H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination by Christopher Myers, ISBN: 9781606842188
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrated by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9780545094665
Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend: A Civil Rights Story by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Bettye Stroud, Bettye, and John Holyfield, ISBN: 9780763640583
Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780761352556
Under the Same Sun by Sharon Robinson, illustrated by A.G. Ford, ISBN: 9780545166720
Me and Momma and Big John by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by William Low, ISBN: 9780763643591
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9781600608988
I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9781619631786
In the Land of Milk and Honey by Joyce Carol Thomas, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780060253837
As Fast As Words Could Fly by Pamela M. Tuck, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9781600603488
Grandma’s Gift by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9780802720825
Freedom Song: The Story of Henry “Box” Brown by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Sean Qualls, ISBN: 9780060583101
Sugar Hill: Harlem’s Historic Neighborhood by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, ISBN: 9780807576502
A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9781590787120
Jazz Age Josephine by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, ISBN: 9781416961239
This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, Jacqueline, illustrated by James Ransome, ISBN: 9780399239861
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, ISBN: 9780399239878
Early Chapter Books
Dog Days by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780547970448
Election Madness by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780547850719
Skateboard Party by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780544283060
Birthday Blues by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780547248936
Nikki and Deja by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780547133621
Substitute Trouble by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman, ISBN: 9780544223882
Almost Zero by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, ISBN: 9780399251771
Halfway to Perfect by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, ISBN: 9780399251788
Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson, illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9780142419373
Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson, illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9780142415726
EllRay Jakes and the Beanstalk by Sally Warner, illustrated by Brian Biggs, ISBN: 9780670784998
EllRay Jakes the Dragon Slayer! by Sally Warner, illustrated by Brian Biggs, ISBN: 9780670784974
EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank! by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper, ISBN: 9780670063062
EllRay Jakes Is a Rock Star by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper, ISBN: 9780670011582
EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken! by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper, ISBN: 9780670062430
Ellray Jakes Rocks the Holidays! by Sally Warner, illustrated by Brian Biggs, ISBN: 9780451469090
Ellray Jakes Is Magic! by Sally Warner, illustrated by Brian Biggs, ISBN: 9780670785001
Middle Grade Fiction
Sasquatch in the Paint by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld, ISBN: 9781423178705
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, ISBN: 9780544107717
How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen, ISBN: 9780061992728
Hold Fast by Blue Balliett, ISBN: 9780545299886
The Zero Degree Zombie Zone by Patrik Henry Bass, illustrated by Jerry Craft, ISBN: 9780545132107
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond, Victoria and T.R. Simon, ISBN: 9780763643003
Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth, ISBN: 9780545224963
Serafina’s Promise by Ann E. Burg, ISBN: 9780545535649
Riding on Duke’s Train by Mick Carlon, ISBN: 9781935248064
Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet by Andrea Cheng, ISBN: 9781600604515
The Madman of Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtis, ISBN: 9780545156646
Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad by Monica Edinger, illustrated by Robert Byrd, ISBN: 9780763650384
Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake, ISBN: 9780545609609
Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff, ISBN: 9780375838927
Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes, ISBN: 9781599902845
The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris, ISBN: 9780547255194
Buddy by M.H. Herlong, ISBN: 9780142425442
The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson, ISBN: 9780545525527
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana, ISBN: 9781452124568
Leaving Gee’s Bend by Irene Latham, ISBN: 9780399251795
Nightingale’s Nest by Nikki Loftin, ISBN: 9781595145468
True Legend by Mike Lupica, ISBN: 9780399252273
Camo Girl by Kekla Magoon, ISBN: 9781416978053
The Sittin’ Up by Sheila P. Moses, ISBN: 9780399257230
Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson, ISBN: 9780763649227
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, ISBN: 9780316043083
8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, ISBN: 9780545097253
The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell, ISBN: 9781561457106
Animal Rescue Team: Gator on the Loose! by Sue Stauffacher, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, ISBN: 9780375851315
Animal Rescue Team: Special Delivery by Sue Stauffacher, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, ISBN: 978375851322
Animal Rescue Team: Hide and Seek by Sue Stauffacher, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, ISBN: 9780375851339
Animal Rescue Team: Show Time by Sue Stauffacher, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, ISBN: 9780375851346
Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile by Marcia Wells, illustrated by Marcos Calo, ISBN: 9780544238336
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, ISBN: 9780060760885
P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia, ISBN: 9780061938627
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods, ISBN: 9780399257148
Crow by Barbara Wright, ISBN: 9780375873676
Non-Fiction
What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld, and Ben Boos, illustrated by A.G. Ford, ISBN: 9780763645649
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, ISBN: 9780375867125
The Cart That Carried Martin by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Don Tate, ISBN: 9781580893879
Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome, ISBN: 9781416959038
Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Ballerina by Michaela Deprince, Michaela and Elaine Deprince, illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9780385755160
Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey by Gary Golio, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez, ISBN: 9780547239941
Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, ISBN: 9780618852796
I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery by Cynthia Grady, illustrated by Michele Wood, ISBN: 9780802853868
The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, ISBN: 9780061259210
When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, ISBN: 9781596435407
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier, ISBN: 9780316107310
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Bryan Collier, ISBN: 9781442420083
The Girl from the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement by Teri Kanefield, ISBN: 9781419707964
Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman: Olympic High-Jump Champion by Heather Lang, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9781590788509
We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson, ISBN: 9781561456277
When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Various, ISBN: 9781452101194
Touch the Sky: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper by Ann Malaspina, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9780807580356
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Will Allen, illustrated by Eric-Shabazz Larkin, ISBN: 9780983661535
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
by Kadir Nelson, ISBN: 9780061730740
Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald by Roxane Orgill, illustrated by Sean Qualls, ISBN: 9780763664596
Martin & Mahalia: His Words – Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Andrea Davis, illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney, ISBN: 9780316070133
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney, ISBN: 9781423142577
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney, ISBN: 9780316070164
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson, ISBN: 9781452103143
Jackie Robinson: American Hero by Sharon Robinson, ISBN: 9780545569156
Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige Vs. Rookie Joe Dimaggio by Robert Skead, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780761366195
Brick by Brick by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ISBN: 9780061920820
Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934
by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Frank Morrison, ISBN: 9780689866388
Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans, ISBN: 9781596434738
Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickels: America’s First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone, ISBN: 9780763651176
It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, ISBN: 9781600602603
She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Don Tate, ISBN: 9780061349201
My Uncle Martin’s Words for America: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Niece Tells How He Made a Difference by Angela Farris Watkins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9781419700224
My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart by Angela Farris Watkins, Angela illustrated by Eric Velasquez, ISBN: 9780810989757
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, ISBN: 9780399252518
Filed under: Uncategorized
About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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What a resource!!!
I’d also recommend Michael Winerip’s Adam Canfield trilogy: Adam Canfield of the Slash/Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back/Adam Canfield, Last Reporter. While Adam is white, Jennifer, his co-editor at the Slash is African American. The books titles might lead you to believe that Jennifer is just a secondary character, but that isn’t so….they’re very much co-leads as well as co-editors. (And there might be just the tiniest hit of romance in the air, but still very middle grade)
The last book came out in 2009….hope that makes the cutoff! All are still in print in paperback and as ebooks.
I might add Pinned by Sharon Flake and definitely Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper.
Yes, definitely Stella By Starlight, I agree. Pinned is YA, though, and a bit out of this list’s range.
It’s been awhile since I read Pinned, I guess I was thinking it was about older middle schoolers. What about Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes?
Oh yes. Sugar would be completely the right age level.
I think titles by Jesmyn Ward, Tonya Bolden’s BEAUTIFUL MOON, Maya Angelou, 28 DAYS, MALCOLM LITTLE, BARACK by Jonah Winter, GAMEWORLD by Chris Farley (This book is brilliant!!!!) I’M A PRETTY LITTLE BLACK GIRL by Betty K. Bynum, Tonya Cherie Hegamin’s WILLOW, THE ZERO DEGREE ZOMBIE ZONE by Patrick Henry Bass, SALVAGE THE BONES by Jesmyn Ward, THE SWOOP LIST SERIES by Stephanie Perry Moore, HOW LAMAR’S BAD PRANK WON A BUBBA-SIZED TROPHY by Crystal Allen.
Also, Elizabeth, you can join, Kids of Color Children’s Book on Facebook. There, I compiled a list of books written by Authors of Color and I pair those books with popular books. It is in support of our #ReadSameReadDifferent Campaign. Trying to expose children to other books.
So I may say, “If you like THE PERCY JACKSON SERIES, then try SHIP OF SOUL by Dr. Zetta Elliott. Thanks for the list…Most of these I already have…
Great resource! Thank you so much for doing this, Betsy.
It’s a bit far afield, being set in Nigeria rather than the US, but Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor blew me away. It came out in 2011, and while it is set in Nigeria, the main character Sunny was born in America to Nigerian parents and moved to Nigeria as a tween; being Nigerian-American (American-Nigerian?) is part of her identity in the book. It’s right on the cusp between middle grade and YA, and I often describe it as Harry Potter in Nigeria, in the best way possible. It’s one of the books I always think of when I think of books that deserve more attention.
God, I loved that book. Generally for this list I was just doing stories with African-American characters, but I did consider making it a “Black Experience” list instead. It is, after all, “Black History Month” and not “African-American History Month”. In the end, I simplified, but it would be worth doing a longer, more extensive list in the future if only to including books like Okorafor’s.
Thank you for this outstanding list. You’ve just made my job easier – and my displays better. ~ jane
Despite needing a few more titles suggested above (and Bird by Zetta Elliott and illustrated by Shadra Strickland), this is a fine start!
Ah, but Bird came out in 2008 so it’s out of my range. You see how difficult this is? Jackie definitely hit on some that would qualify.
So I guess that leaves out Jazzy Miz Mozetta? What about Number 1 Car Spotter or Anna Hibiscus?
Yep. I love each and every one of those. But I also like to see books done recently. That’s what makes this list a little different. I wasn’t including books of kids outside of America, but due to the lack of early chapter book fare there’s not a lot to choose from.
This really speaks to the need for MANY MORE books for our younger students that are by people of color and about different cultural experiences. And thanks for starting with this list.
Particularly easy books and early chapter fare, I 100% agree.
Here are some I like, all published since 2000:
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis, the Animal Rescue Team series by Sue Stauffeacher, Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau, Fire in the Streets by Kekla Magoon, Vision of Beauty; The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Katheryn Lasky, A Voice of Her Own; the Story of Phillis Wheatly, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky, the Miami Jackson series by Patricia & Fredrick McKissick, Dyamonde Daniel books by Nikki Grimes, Eddie’s Ordeal by Kelly Starling Lyons, the STAT series by Amar’e Stoudemire, Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan, A President from Hawaii by Dr. Terry Carolan and Joanna Carolan, and Zetta Elliott has several middle grade books that came out in 2014.
I thought of a few more- The Beatitudes From Slavery to Civil Rights by Carole Boston Weatherford, Ben and the Emancipation Proclamation be Pat Sherman, Illustrated by Floyd Copper, Howard Thurman’s Great Hope by Kai Jackson Issa, 12 Rounds to Glory by Charles Smith Jr., Illustrated by Bryan Collier, Quiet Hero; the Ira Hayes Story by S. d. Nelson. Thanks for doing this list and inviting us to add to it! What a great resource!!
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
I appreciate this list! I believe my MG historical LEAVING GEE’S BEND meets your criteria. Thanks.
UNLESS I missed these: Where are titles by Nikki Grimes — both her books of poetry and fiction titles?
Yes indeed! Grimes would be good. She certainly has some recent titles that would apply.
Betsy — Are you going to update the list to reflect all of these suggestions?
I certainly could do that thing. Would that be helpful?
Thanks so much, Betsy, for compiling this really useful list. For middle readers you can add:
Tony Medina’s The President Looks Like Me and Other Poems (ages 8-12) published by Just Us Books (2013)
Valerie Wilson Wesley’s Willimena Rules: 9 Steps to the Best, Worst, Greatest Holiday Ever! A Christmas-Kwanzaa chapter book published by Just Us Books (c) 2015
Thank you, Cheryl! By the way, you need to send me your catalog for the 2015 season.
Nikki Grimes’ titles like WORDS WITH WINGS! (2013)!!!!
Other eligible books by Nikki include:
2010: Almost Zero: a Dymonde Daniel Book (book 3 of the series)
2010: A Girl Named Mister
2011: Planet Middle School
2012: Halfway to Perfect: a Dymonde Daniel Book (book 4 of the series)
2015: Chasing Freedom
Great list! Thank you so much for compiling this!
I think knowing authors to go to helps too…brain can find them… Carole Boston Weatherford and Jerdine Nolen would be two I would add.
I see the big hole in the books for boys ages 7-10. Ellray Jakes is my go-to…. Sharon Draper has the Clubhouse Mysteries…but beyond these two… I am at a loss. Always a struggle when you have a father/son combination …son being about 8 or 9 and the father wants books that will reflect his son’s experience. Sigh. I wrack my brain.
Black Canary (not a new book) is one I can turn to but it’s not a series.
Got time to put a Latino list together? It would be wonderful!
Thanks so much for sharing this list! This is such a wonderful resource. I went directly to my library catalog and started searching for titles and have quite a few now to read and review for Perfect Picture Book Friday, Susanna Leonard Hill’s resource in picture books that I contribute to. In the past I have reviewed such titles as
https://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/perfect-picture-book-fridaypeeny-butter-fudge/
and I saw this title above so not to add it but to let you know it is on Susanna’s resource along with others who have added titles especially for Black History Month.
https://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/perfect-picture-book-fridaythe-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind/
Again, thanks so very much!
Yep. I considered The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind but decided to make this an African-American list rather than a Black Experience list. I can always change that in the future, though. Thanks!!
…” but decided to make this an African-American list rather than a Black Experience list.”
I respect you so much for that comment, Elizabeth.
Aw. Thanks, Don. It’s an important distinction that I think gets missed a lot of the time. In the past there were a lot of Black Experience lists just because of the sheer lack of material. But we don’t have to do that anymore. We have good books. We should celebrate them.
I’m a lesbian parent and I was appalled when you referenced gay parents as something you think children as inappropriate for children in your discussion about common sense media. This is an example of homophobia at its best! Congratulations!
Ah. You misunderstood me. I said that my problem with Common Sense Media was that they considered gay parents inappropriate as a topic for children and would flag books on the topic as such. Common Sense Media specializes in “warning” parents of things they would find appropriate and they include gay parents in that assessment. That’s why I don’t particularly care for them. I’m sorry if you misunderstood me. To say that I myself find gay parents inappropriate would be horrifying, you’re correct. ESPECIALLY since I’m a Materials Specialist. Can you imagine?
I apologize for not being clear on that point. No one should have to sit through a presentation (particularly an after work presentation when they’re using up their own family time) thinking that the presenter has just insulted their life.
By the way, just tried to send you a longer email with an apology but it just bounced right back from the address you’ve listed here. If you’d like to email me personally I can send it to you immediately.