Happy to Be Nappy

By Bell Hooks
Illustrated by Christ Raschka

Summary: This book celebrates black hair. As oppose to the negatives messages often portrayed in media about natural black hair, Bell Hooks uses poetic language to describe it's beauty and creativity. It is a book for young women giving a message that affirms their hair.

Special Notes: The art is beautiful. It compliments the text very well as she describes all the different ways to describe and style hair. A book like this is very important because it affirms the identity of black women. I find the title to be filled with irony because she uses the word, "nappy" in a positive light. When the general public would associate "nappy" as bad, Hooks embraces the word and challenges the norms of what "good hair" is. It is a celebration of black hair. This book is beautiful.

Here is a great book review from this blog.

Be Boy Buzz

By Bell Hooks
Illustrated by Chris Raschka

Summary: This book uses poetry to celebrate being a boy and it's complexities and wonder.

Other Notes: I really value this book because it celebrates boys. The spirited boy, the tender boy, the talkative boy, the quiet boy. It is absolutely wonderful and I especially appreciate how it is not a book that reinforces gender stereotypes. These are rare to find. The art is also beautiful with the text.

"I be boy. All bliss. All fine beat. All beau boy."

A book for toddlers.

Homemade Love

by Bell Hooks
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Summary: This is a story about a girl and how she is loved by her parents. Her parents call her, "Girlpie" who knows that she is treasured and adored by her mother and father. Even when she makes a mistake, every hurt is healed and everything will be forgiven. Life will move on and she feels safe knowing she is loved.

Notes: I love this book. Taj loves the poetry in this book and the pictures bring the words to life. The main character has the freedom and charisma as a young child who explores the world. She feels safe knowing and having memories of her parents who will always be with her. This book is absolutely delightful to read.

Activities: Analyze the poetry, pictures to make inferences

Apple Pie 4th of July

by Janet S. Wong

Illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Genre: Fiction

Summary: A young, feisty Chinese-American girl tries to teacher her parents a lesson about "Americans". While all the store close on the forth of July, her parents are working at the restaurant cooking food for customers. As the parade passes and people are celebrating, the business is slow. She is convinced that Americans do not want to eat Chinese food on such a holiday. At the end of the story she finds that the restaurant is busy with customers until the store closes where she watches fireworks and participates in the celebration.

Notes: There is a strong theme in this story that emphasizes inclusion. The US is a diverse country and Janet Wong expresses how everyone is a part of being American. That you can celebrate the 4th of July and still eat Chinese food. I like the character in this book and the poetry is witty. However, I do not agree with her analysis of the 4th of July and being Chinese American in the US. The 4th of July is very symbolic of freedom in our country but yet the very foundations of this country was never built on such for all peoples. This is a false lie that needs to be let known. All people cannot take part in the privileges of being an American. We need to find literature (especially written from an Asian-American perspectives) for young children that can critically analyze the effects of White Supremacy and it's effects on the Asian community. We also need to find a strong voice that is forward thinking towards dismantling the systems that limits us and isolates us from other disenfranchised groups.

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