Welcome back to my little post about the world of POC.
What is POC you ask? POC stands for People of Color. Non-White. So that encompasses Asian, Black, Latin, American Indian. This year I am making it a point to include more POC post on my blog. Not just book reviews but other stuff like highlighting POC authors, books and other things POC are doing in the bookish world.
Today, I am highlight children books. I have to say first, when I was a small beginner reader there were no, ZERO books with little black girls in them. I know my mother was very conscience about making sure there were black dolls in our collections along with a few white ones but there were no books with POC in them on my shelf. Not because my mother didn't buy them but that was just not heard of in the late 70's and 80's. I was an avid reader early on and I was hooked on the Sweet Valley High Series and the Choose Your Own Adventures series the most. Again there were no POC in those books as well. Not back then.
Today things are different and I find myself going to the children section just to see what new POC books are out now. There are more books than before but still the numbers are not even close to being even or even close to non-POC books. Here are a few great children books with POC characters and/or by POC authors.
By the way have you seen this....
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| Image from The First Book Blog |
Dave the Potter
Author: Laban Carrick Hill
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
To us
it is just dirt,
the ground we walk on...
But to Dave
it was clay,
the plain and basic stuff
upon which he formed a life
as a slave nearly 200 years ago.
Dave was an extraordinary artist, poet, and potter living in South Carolina in the 1800s. He combined his superb artistry with deeply observant poetry, carved onto his pots, transcending the limitations he faced as a slave. In this inspiring and lyrical portrayal, National Book Award nominee Laban Carrick Hill's elegantly simple text and award-winning artist Bryan Collier's resplendent, earth-toned illustrations tell Dave's story, a story rich in history, hope, and long-lasting beauty.
This is a really interesting story. I love the artwork and the poems are nice and easy for a young reader. Dave is a skilled slave and this is a beautiful story that celebrates his artistry and talent.
Author and Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Señoras y Señores, put your hands together for the fantastic, spectacular, one of a kind . . . Niño!
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño—popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move!
No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño—popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor!
What a funny and cute book. This is for a beginner bilingual reader. Great illustrations and clear and vivid colors. The book even gives a brief description about the history of Lucha Libre. This is a book of pure fun.
Author: Maha Addasi
Illustrator: Ned Gannon
I heard the voice of the muezzin calling, "Come to pray, come to pray." Yasmin is visiting her grandmother, who lives in a country somewhere in the Middle East. On her first night, she's wakened by the muezzin at the nearby mosque calling the faithful to prayer, and Yasmin watches from her bed as her grandmother prepares to pray. A visit with Grandmother is always special, but this time it is even more so. Her grandmother makes Yasmin prayer clothes, buys her a prayer rug, and teaches her the five prayers that Muslims perform over the course of a day. When it's time for Yasmin to board a plane and return home, her grandmother gives her a present that her granddaughter opens when she arrives: a prayer clock in the shape of a mosque, with an alarm that sounds like a muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. Maha Addasi's warm and endearing story is richly illustrated by Ned Gannon. This Arab American Book Award, Honor Book features a text in English and Arabic, and includes an author's note and glossary.
This is a beautiful story about a girl visiting her grandmother. Her grandmother teaches her how to pray during her visit. The art is great and the book is in English and in Arabic as well.
Author: Shirin Yim Bridges
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo
When Noot is finally allowed to paint umbrellas like the other women and girls in her village, she secretly hopes that she might be chosen as this year's Umbrella Queen. Carefully, she creates serene flowers and butterflies exactly as she has seen her mother and grandmother do for years.
But soon her imagination takes over, and Noot finds herself straying from the old patterns, to the dismay of her family, who depend on the traditionally painted umbrellas for their livelihood.
Her parents tell her she must go back to the old designs and Noot obeys, knowing that the King is coming soon to name the one who has painted the most beautiful umbrella. After all, the King would never choose a queen who breaks from tradition . . . would he?
I love stories were the parents are (one) together and (two) they encourage their children. This book is great because the little girl is encouraged to express herself...but on her time not the family time.But soon her imagination takes over, and Noot finds herself straying from the old patterns, to the dismay of her family, who depend on the traditionally painted umbrellas for their livelihood.
Her parents tell her she must go back to the old designs and Noot obeys, knowing that the King is coming soon to name the one who has painted the most beautiful umbrella. After all, the King would never choose a queen who breaks from tradition . . . would he?
Books Mentioned in this Post
What interesting POC children books have you run across?
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