Playing Dress Up with “Collage Workshop for Kids” by Shannon Merenstein

Collage Workshop for Kids: Rip, snip, cut, and create with inspiration from The Eric Carle Museum by Shannon Merenstein is an excellent resource for caregivers and is a pleasure to share with children from toddlers to primary school-age children. Artist Shannon Merenstein wrote the book with the art educators from the Eric Carle Museum. Eric […]

“Little Leaders Bold Women in Black History” by Vashti Harrison

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, […]

“Fiona Flamingo” by Rachael Urrutia Chu and Craft

My favorite activity to do with children is help them make a craft or do a fun activity that corresponds to their favorite children’s books. My Nanny Kid loves Fiona Flamingo by Rachael Urrutia Chu and enjoyed made her own Fiona with paper plates and colorful tissue paper. There is also a Fiona Flamingo Coloring […]

“Look What Brown Can Do” by T. Marie Harris

Called a modern black history book, “Look What Brown Can Do!” by T. Marie Harris teaches readers about inspiring contributions to black history and encourages kids to dream big. “Look What Brown Can Do!” can help raise the self esteem and awareness of young black and brown children about the many great people that came […]

“How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?” and Dino Feet Craft

Creative Wednesdays Who doesn’t like dinosaurs? Girls and boys of all ages love dinosaurs. In How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen human parents are trying to put young dinosaurs to bed. The dinosaurs in the book represent human children throwing temper tantrums when it’s time to go to bed. Do yourself a favor […]

“The Other Side” by Jacqueline Woodson

It is understandably hard for children who currently live in diverse neighborhoods to understand racial segregation — but it’s an important part of American history children should be taught about. In The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, the young African-American narrator named Clover, lives beside a fence that segregates her town. Her mother instructs her […]

“Those Shoes” by Maribeth Bolts

My 7-year old, 8-year-old, and 9-year-old nanny kids and I absolutely love the book Those Shoes by Maribeth Bolts. Although there are some important morals taught in Those Shoes, the book isn’t too preachy. The main character in Those Shoes, is a boy named Jeremy who lives with his grandmother. At school all the other […]

“Be a King” by Carole Boston Weatherford

Every year at this time as Martin Luther King Day approaches I try to find a children’s book I never read before about him to share with my Nanny Kids. This year I borrowed Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford from the library. Be a King: […]

“Martin Rising” by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

If you care for school-aged kids they have undoubtedly read and loved books by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney already. Martin Rising: Requiem For a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney begins with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth, then jumps to his birthday in 1968, just three months before […]

“Shante Keys and the New Years Peas” by Gail Piernas-Davenport

Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport is a story of diversity and traditions that children will really enjoy. Shanté Keys loves New Year’s Day! But while Grandma fixed chitlins, baked ham, greens, and cornbread, she forgot the black-eyed peas! Black-eyed beans represent good luck. Shante doesn’t want bad luck without them! […]