Book Review
When the people of Egypt were at the height of their protests, Carver had a discussion with David and me about peaceful protests. Carver is at a great age. Seriously. Do not fear your kids getting older. It just gets more exciting and you get to introduce them to amazing current events and slowly brainwash them to buy into your political views. (Did I just say that out loud?) Ok, not exactly. You teach your kids what you believe and beg them to hope they feel the same as you do about certain issues as they mature. When the people of Egypt were peacefully protesting, we talked with Carver that this style of opposition has a long history and was especially evident in the sit-ins in the segregated South of our country. To our horror, he had never seen a picture of those sit-ins. Thank goodness for Google images, which I used as fast as I could to find some photos. The look on Carver's face, though, as he saw innocent people with flour and syrup and milk streaming down their heads while sitting peacefully at counters made me inwardly sob. We searched through many images, and as I did, this book popped up.

Sit-In by Andrea David Pinkney

It's a well-written account of the sit-in movement at food establishments across the South in the early 1960s, starting with 4 friends at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina. Did you know North Carolina happens to be Lily's home state? Mmmm hmmmm.The illustrations are vivid, the text is simple, and the message is powerful. I highly recommend it. I especially love the last page of the story that includes a "recipe for integration:"

1. Start with love.
2. Add conviction.
3. Season with hope.
4. Extra faith to flavor.
5. Mix black people with white people.
6. Let unity stand.
7. Fold in change.
8. Sprinkle with dignity.
9. Bake until golden.
10. Serve immediately.
*Makes enough for all.

I don't know about you but I think that's a recipe for life. Is this suitable for all ages? I suggest kids 7 and older. Although the text is simple enough to follow, the topic and historical facts included in the pages could be lost on a younger child. You'd have to decide for yourself if you think your kiddo could take it all in. And you can just bet your bottom dollar I'll be writing to the author.

The other book I recently read to Zinabu was this.

Superhero by Marc Tauss

A fun and (overly) simplistic story of a boy who changes into a superhero when the city's parks vanish. A cute tale of his imagination and science skills as he restores order to the urban jungle. The information about the books says it's for kids ages 3-5, but that's not the case at our house. Z is 7 and he loved it. I love that it features an African American boy using his brain.