Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History (Vashti Harrison)

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Nathaniel doesn’t want to move to England with his master’s family, leaving behind his mother and sister on the Jamaican plantation. But then he remembers what his mother told him: once a slave sets foot on English soil, they’re free. Perhaps he can earn his fortune and buy his family’s freedom, too. Here's my biggest beef with all three of the books: WHO is the target audience? Are we trying to get Mom to buy copies to share with her daughters? If so, then tailor the women's blurbs to inspire the interest of children. Are we hoping that Mom will buy into the premise of buying them for her daughters, but then secretly enjoy them as part of her own library? If so, then spice up these dull stories! Follow ten-year-old Floella as she and her family set sail from the Caribbean to a new life in London. Alone on a huge ship for two weeks, then tumbled into a cold and unfriendly London, coming to England wasn’t at all what Floella had expected . . . What will her new school be like? Will she meet the Queen? Tara: 4 stars. Non-fiction. Good information for young readers but I thought the length of the stories would have it be grouped in middle grades. Ask:What traits of a leader do you have already? What trait of a leader would you like to develop? What does a leader like this do to make the world better? Can you do any of those things?

Harry (13): 3.5 stars. I Too long compared to all the other picture books, but I read some of them, and found them inspirational. A story about the triumph of hope, love, and determination, Coming to England is the inspiring true story of Baroness Floella Benjamin: from Trinidad, to London as part of the Windrush generation, to the House of Lords. Talk about race is often discouraged, but this book aims to bring everyone into the conversation. It explores the history of race and society, giving context to how racist attitudes come into being. It looks at belonging and identity, the damaging effects of stereotyping and the benefits of positive representation. The authors talk sensitively about how to identify and challenge racism, and how to protect against and stop racist behaviour. Show:Look at the table of contents to see who is featured. Talk about what you already know about some of the people. Do any of the names sound familiar, but you aren't sure what they have done? This is my third illustrated girl power read in less than a year, and, even though I'm giving it four stars, I'd also like to have a little moment to bitch.

A Mighty Girl

Sulwe’s skin is the colour of midnight. She’s darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school. All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Marcus Rashford MBE is famous worldwide for his skills both on and off the pitch – but before he was a Manchester United and England footballer, and long before he started his inspiring campaign to end child food poverty, he was just an ordinary kid from Wythenshawe, South Manchester. Now the nation’s favourite footballer wants to show YOU how to achieve your dreams, in this positive and inspiring guide for life.

Connect:Would you be considered brave if you did today what the women in these storiesdid? Talk about the difference between then and now? What has changed, and what must still change? After Reading A powerful, gripping and piercingly relevant YA novel about inequality, police violence, 21st century prejudice and one girl’s struggle for justice. I have also had the pleasure of studying Zora Neale Hurston, who grew up not far from my university in Florida, and I found her to be one of the most fascinating humans who ever lived. The woman was an absolute enigma! And, again, the text reads blah, blah, blah. Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer.Written by Baroness Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Diane Ewen, published by Macmillan Children’s Books Connect: History is made up of stories told by the people who were there or those who came after and researched the people and events. When you write in your journal about the events of your day and the world around you, you are telling the story of that day. Look around at thekind and generous acts you see people doing; write about it to document the good in the world. Activities I especially love that each illustration starts as a "template" with the famous woman's defining features created on top. It purposely creates the sensation that the drawing could be anyone, even the reader.