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Anyone who’s been paying any kind of attention lately knows that, as a country, we’re facing a reckoning for the violence and discrimination that Black people so often face in our society. Explaining racism, its history, and the systems that have allowed it to flourish to our young children and students may seem like a daunting task, especially when many adults often struggle to grasp the nuances themselves. But as this handy chart, adapted from work by the Children’s Community School, points out, it’s never too early to start talking to kids about race; and in this accompanying collection of resources, Katrina Michie lays out ways to do just that. You can also check out this book list from Change Maker organization EmbraceRace, which offers up 31 children’s books that support conversations about race. Or listen to the Booklist Shelf Care Interview with Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds as they discuss Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You.
All of the change and uncertainty in the world right now means that this is a scary time for kids, but for Black kids especially. We wanted to include this roundup of books that centers Black children and families as they experience times of joy. Because while the difficult conversations are important, it’s just as essential to normalize happiness.
June is a busy month, so we have a few housekeeping things. If you’re experiencing reading fatigue, like so many of us are, why not try out an audiobook (June is Audiobook Month after all!) from our Top 10 list of middle-grade audiobooks? if you're just looking for a little structure (and science) around the house, then regular contributor Anastasia Suen has that covered in her STEM column as she playfully explores the differences between our most common house pets.
And, believe it or not, we’re still in a pandemic, and that’s changing the way we do business. If you’re looking for timely titles to recommend in the absence of Pride events (a celebration that began with a protest!), check out the 2020 Rainbow List, for picks of all ages curated by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. If you were planning on attending the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, be sure to check out the Virtual Event that will be held in its place.
We’ll see you as soon as we can. Until then, take care and keep fighting.
—Maggie Reagan, Editor
...@ala.org" style="color: #2199e8; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">mrea...@ala.org
@MagdalenaRayGun
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The Shelf Care Interview: Tracey Hecht
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In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Julia Smith talks to Tracey Hecht. Hecht is the author of The Nocturnals book series, which includes The Best Burp, published in April, and The Weeping Wombat, scheduled to hit bookshelves this August. click to listen →
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Stories of Black Joy
Share these picture books from Black creators with Black kids who are looking for stories that celebrate them and their happiest moments.
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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. By Derrick Barnes. Illus. by Gordon C. James. 2017. Agate, $17.95 (9781572842243). Gr. 3–6.
Early Sunday Morning. By Denene Millner. Illus. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. 2017. Bolden, $17.95 (9781572842113). Gr. 1–3.
Hair Love. By Matthew A. Cherry. Illus. by Vashti Harrison. 2019. Penguin/Kokila, $17.99 (9780525553366). K–Gr. 3.
I Got the Rhythm. By Connie Schofield-Morrison. Illus. by Frank Morrison. 2014. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (9781619631786). PreS–K.
My Mommy Medicine. By Edwidge Danticat. Illus. by Shannon Wright. 2019. Roaring Brook, $17.99 (9781250140913). PreS–Gr. 1.
 Saturday. By Oge Mora. Illus. by the author. 2019. Little, Brown, $18.99 (9780316431279). PreS–Gr. 1.
Sulwe. By Lupita Nyong’o. Illus. by Vashti Harrison. 2019. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (9781534425361). K–Gr. 2.
Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora. Illus. by the author. 2018. Little, Brown, $18.99 (9780316431248). PreS–Gr. 2.
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Middle-Grade Fiction on Audio
By Heather Booth
Audiobooks for middle-graders have been booming, both in quality and in quantity—so much that we've had to up our coverage. Head over to this Top 10 and take a listen.
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We are thrilled to offer a Top 10 audio list for this booming genre for the second consecutive year. Starred reviews of each appeared in Booklist from April 15, 2019, through April 15, 2020. read more→
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For more on the books mentioned here, see these related web resources.
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Cats and Dogs
By Anastasia Suen
Help kids take an extra-close look at the family pet with these fun, informative books on feline and canine friends.
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Dog person or cat person? That is the question—and the answer depends on whom you ask! No matter what the answer is, these pets have been getting a lot of up close and personal time lately. While cats will rarely show you that they like having you around, dogs have been lapping up all the attention! Give kids a way to learn more about their pets with these new books and activities. read more→
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For more on the books mentioned here, see these related web resources.
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