By Alli Harper, Founder of OurShelves
I’m Alli, the founder and owner of OurShelves, an expert-curated diverse children’s book box service and advocacy effort. I started OurShelves because my kids have two moms, and it can be much too hard to find high-quality books that feature LGBTQ+ families like ours and also the many other racially and ethnically diverse, neurodiverse, disabled, feminist, and other kids and families who remain under- and misrepresented. Books are one concrete way we can cultivate our values of diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, joy and fun with our children, especially during this critical time. Our Curation Team of national experts helps us review and find all kinds of diverse stories that your kids will want to read again and again while also affirming our values.
In honor of Black History Month, this month we are delivering a special book, BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR, to the Make It Cute indoor playhouse. When the book ends, make sure to keep reading to find important supplemental material that allows for ever-deepening exploration and discussion with each further reading of the book. Below you'll also find a storytime video that author Angela Joy created for us.
BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR is poetically written by award-winning author Angela Joy and powerfully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Ekua Holmes. Publisher Macmillan shares: “A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this moving and powerful anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on. From the wheels of a bicycle to the robe on Thurgood Marshall's back, Black surrounds our lives. It is a color to simply describe some of our favorite things, but it also evokes a deeper sentiment about the incredible people who helped change the world and a community that continues to grow and thrive.”
We highly recommend this accompanying video that author Angela Joy made for Ourshelves:
In the video, she reads the book and answers some commonly asked questions she receives about the book like "What do you mean when you say 'Black is a Rainbow Color'?" and "What is a culture?"
Have older children in the family? Children ages 6-12 can dig more deeply into Black history by checking out the OurShelves Black History Book Box.
While February is Black History Month, we honor Black history and Black joy all year long. What are some of your favorite books honoring Black history and Black joy?
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What thoughts or questions do your children have about this book? Share yours with Make It Cute and OurShelves on Instagram @MakeItCuteKids and @OurShelvesKids.