Are you a caregiver or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe to my email newsletter for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Children's books about war
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Hi Reader, How are you doing on this emotional roller coaster called life? The last couple of weeks, I've had days where I had to give myself a lengthy pep talk just to roll out of the bed. Other days, I've felt clear in my purpose and how I can resist the hatred and injustice coming from all directions. Strangely, one thing that's helped me feel grounded is reading children's books about war in preparation for my latest blog post. Remembering how people throughout history have faced awful things and come together to keep each other safe encourages me. None of us are superheroes, yet that doesn't mean there's nothing we can do. The books I read, especially When Spring Comes to the DMZ, also remind me that the negative effects of war last long after guns have gone silent. That's certainly the case for my friend Ameera Skaik, who lives in North Gaza. Many of you have supported Ameera and her children when they had to flee their destroyed home with only a change of clothes. A couple of weeks ago, Ameera wrote me to say how very tired and discouraged she is. Food is finally available in the markets, but the daily cost for her family's most basic needs is still around $100 a day. Please support Ameera if you can, as her family has a very long road to getting back on their feet. New blog post: Children's books about war and genocideAre you trying to teach children about U.S. or world history? Sadly, war is a big part of these histories. Perhaps your kids are asking you questions about present-day wars and violent conflicts. If you’re not sure how to respond, these children’s books about war and genocide can help start age-appropriate conversations about these sensitive topics. You'll find stories for ages 4 to 14 about topics including:
Please support Ameera family survive in GazaIf you've been part of our community for a while, you've heard me talk about Ameera Skaik, a mother in Nothern Gaza who has been struggling to survive. At the end of 2024, the home next to Ameera's was bombed, making their home uninhabitable. The family had to flee with only a change of clothes. Ameera wrote to me a couple of weeks ago, saying that: "After a break of more than a year, chicken, meat, fruits, vegetables, eggs and milk are now available. It’s true that we are happy about this, but I am also sad, I feel pain in my heart. There is no decent life, life here is difficult and we suffer from everything, everything needs money and prices are high. The health system here is bad and dilapidated and there is no education. In order for my family and I to live well, I have to pay $100 a day to be able to provide food, water, charge my cell phone and my husband’s phone, and a battery for electricity. I feel lost and off balance. We wish comfort and a decent life. I feel like I’m a burden on everyone. I also feel like asking for help isn’t easy." It especially hurt my heart to hear Ameera say that she feels like she is a burden when she has been striving mightily for her children. You can help in two ways: 1) Donate directly to Ameera's GoFundMe here. Donations of all sizes are helpful. 2) Purchase items from my Knits for Gaza shop. My friend Julia has crocheted some adorable stuffies, and I've added some new lightweight cotton rainbow colored scarves. All winter hats and scarves and now 20% off. Take action to defend the rights of disabled kids and adults!With the flood of political news, you may have missed that the attornies general in Texas and 16 other states have filed a lawsuit to dismantle Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This important legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by organizations receiving federal funding, including schools and hospitals. If you live in the United States, please email or call your state's attorney general office to defend section 504! You can find contact info in this document from the Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund. Talking points to use in your email or voice mail:
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Nurturing antiracist kids
Are you a caregiver or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe to my email newsletter for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, As families and educators head toward the end of the school year, it's easy to forget two important heritage celebrations that take place in May. May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month AND it's also Jewish American Heritage Month. I know you've got a lot on your plate, so I've created book lists that will make it easy for you to get what you need at the library or the bookstore: Children's books for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander...
Hi Reader, How inclusive and accurate was the history you learned in school? I often tell people that going to majority-Black public schools, I learned more Black history than many students did in the early 1990s. But I don't remember learning anything about Asian American history. Because of this knowledge gap, I learned so much reading Sarah-Sooling Blackburn's book for kids ages 8 - 12, Exclusion and the Chinese American Story (affiliate link). I share some of what I learned from the book...
Hi Reader, When I started my business nine years ago, it never occurred to me that one day I’d need to explain to kids what birthright citizenship is and its history. I talked frequently about immigrant rights and the need for reforms that provided undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. Still, I assumed it would always be taken for granted that children born in the United States are citizens. After all, it’s in the constitution! Yet, here we are. On day 1 of his second term, President...