Shades of Black

Shades of Black: 
A Celebration of Our Children
by Sandra L. Pinkney
photos by Myles C. Pinkney

My kids really enjoyed this book. They loved seeing other children that look like them. The book instills a sense of pride in the beauty of all African-American children. I love the metaphors used to describe all of the differences in skin color, hair texture, and eye color:

"I am the midnight blue in a licorice stick"

"My hair is the soft puffs in a cotton ball"

"My eyes are"..."the shimmering glow of ebony in an onyx"

This is a wonderful book and the photographs are very vibrant and beautiful! We loved seeing all of the shades of black!!!

Across the Alley

Across the Alley
by Richard Michelson
illustrated by E.B. Lewis

I began reading this book to my kids and after a few pages I stopped. It is about two boys who live across the alley from one another. They were great friends, though they never played with one another aside from tossing a ball across the alley from their bedroom windows. Willie was black and played baseball. Abe was Jewish and played the violin.

I stopped reading the book because I didn't like the stereotypes that were presented in the book, specifically by Abe's grandfather. However, I silently read further in the book and decided to proceed in reading it to my kids. I was pleased to see that the stereotypes were broken and in fact, Willie turned out to be quite the violin player and Abe turned out to be a quite a baseball pitcher.

Be Boy Buzz

Be Boy Buzz 

by Bell Hooks 
by Chris Raschka

This book is about being proud of being "all boy." Although it does highlight some of the wonderful characteristics of being a boy, I found that the book was kind of hard to follow. I personally didn't care for the style of writing. Though some may see it as poetic in nature, I felt like it encouraged incorrect grammer. Hence, I did not finish reading it to my kids.

WOW! It Sure Is Good To Be You!

Wow! It Sure is Good to Be You!

by Cynthia Jabar

This is a great little book to encourage self-appreciation! It is a reminder that no matter where you are or what you do, that there is someone who misses and loves you very much and thinks the world of you! This is a great little book for little girls! In fact, I think it would make a great gift for a niece or cousin! I absolutely LOVED this book!

An Angel Just Like Me

An Angel Just Like Me 

by Mary Hoffman
illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu

My kids really enjoyed this book! It is about a boy and his quest to replace the broken angel for his Christmas tree with an angel that looks more like him. He questions why all the angels that he has seen look like girls. He wonders why they all have gold hair and pink skin. After an unsuccessful search, he decides to replace the broken angel with a star since "they are the same for everyone." On Christmas morning, much to his surprise, he receives the most beautiful wood-carved boy angel...that looked just like him! Once his friends (boys and girls of various different races) see his angel, they all want angels...angels just like them!

Black, White, Just Right!

Black, White, Just Right!

by Marguerite W. Davol

Illustrated by Irene Trivas

This story features a little girl whose mother is black and father is white. Throughout the book she notices the many differences between her mother and father (not just physical differences, but for example, differences in their likes and dislikes.) Despite the differences, they continue to tell her that she is "just right!" This is a great book to use to reinforce self appreciation!!!

Girls Hold Up This World

Girls Hold Up This World

by Jada Pinkett Smith
by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough

My daughter loved this book. While we were reading it, she emphatically announced that "girl's rule!" This book features beautiful photographs of females of all ages and colors. The book helps to instill a sense of pride in being a girl by capturing the strength, unity and inner beauty!

I Like Myself!

I Like Myself!

by Karen Beaumont

Illustrated by David Catrow

This book is VERY cute! I really reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book. The book is very silly, but the little girl exudes self-confidence, which I absolutely love! In rhyme she talks about all the things she likes about herself. Just to give you an idea of the silly nature of the book, the little girl comments on how she would still like herself even if she had "knobby knees or hippo hips or purple polka-dotted lips." Despite the silliness, the true points come across loud and clear!!!

"Even when I look a mess,

I still don't like me any less,

'cause nothing in this world, you know,

can change what's deep inside, and so..."

"Inside, outside, upside down,

from head to toe and all around,

I like it all: It all is me:

And me is all I want to be."

This is a very cute book about having self-confidence and self-appreciation!

I Love My Hair!

I Love My Hair!

by Natasha Tarpley

Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

This book is super cute! To be honest, I really don't like doing my daughter's hair. For that matter, she really doesn't like having her hair done! But, this book is a great reminder to love your hair and wear it with pride. The main character, Keyana sits with her mother each night as her mother combs her hair. Although it does hurt a bit, her mother reminds her that her hair is beautiful and that she can wear it in any style that she chooses. For example, her hair can be spun like soft yarn into a puffy little bun or parted into straight lines with rows of braids. This is great because it reminds my daughter and myself that her hair is beautiful, even if neither of us likes doing it/or having it done.

Designed by God so I Must be Special

Designed by God So I Must Be Special

by Bonnie Sose

I think this book is adorable. It talks about the different body parts (eyes, ears, nose, skin, body, mind, heart, and Spirit) that God has given us and how we are able to use them. The book is written in a lyrical/poetic format which I think is called a quatrain (where the 2nd and 4th line of each stanza rhymes).

I love the bright, vivid colors and the overall message of the book,

"He designed me with Special talents,

gifts and abilities you see,

which let me know that He has

something Special in mind for me."

I think this is the cutest little book. If I had not received this book as a gift, I would definitely purchase it!