Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins

Children’s Books for Black History Month Review by Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins is the historic story of the Greensboro, North Carolina, sit-ins is told, in picture book format, from the perspective of a young African American girl. The story and the dramatic illustrations provide a realistic glimpse of the […]

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin A. Ramsey

Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies Since February is Black History Month we suggest borrowing children’s books from the library on the topic. Ruth and the Green Book By Calvin A. Ramsey Review by Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide The picture book Ruth and the Green Book is an excellent work of historical fiction. The […]

The Skinny on Bullying by Mike Cassidy

Weekly Trip to the Library By Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide If you are looking for a kids’ book about bullying that provides a lot of information in an easy-to-digest format, I recommend The Skinny on Bullying. This 214-page book is subtitled The Legend of Gretchen and uses a comic book-style story to introduce key information […]

How The Misfits by James Howe Inspired No Name-Calling Week

Far too many children experience some form of bullying and name-calling. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, between 15 and 30 percent of all students are either bullies or victims of bullying. It begins in the elementary school and peaks during middle school years. No Name-Calling Week is January 23-27, 2012. No Name-Calling Week is a […]

Chidren’s Books About Martin Luther King Jr.

Weekly Trip to the Library On Monday Americans honor the great civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birth date of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around […]

Why "The Help" Hurts the History of Black Domestics

“Sister Citizen: Slave, Shame, Stereotype and Black Women in America” by Melissa Harris-Perry First, try to evoke an image of a nanny. Next, think of a black nanny. Now, search your mind for a picture of an African-American domestic worker. Most people, at some point, envision a stereotypical “Mammy”: a large, dark-complected woman who is always smiling […]

Another Tell-All Book: Could You Ever Tell Secrets About a Former Employer?

Kardashian Nanny Writes Tell-All Book Pam Behan, the nanny who helped raise the Jenner and Kardashian kids, has written a tell-all book detailing her time working for the family. For years, she cooked, cleaned and worked as a personal assistant for Bruce and Kris, and during that time, she apparently uncovered a whole lot of […]

What’s Your Favorite Christmas Book?

Reading Christmas Books Make a Great Family Tradition Reading Christmas books to children is a great holiday tradition. It enhances their beautiful memories of Christmas, as they are snuggled up close and warm, feeling secure, and loved. Reading Christmas books add to that certain magic only a child’s imagination could create. The best fictional Christmas […]

"The Polar Express" By Chris Van Allsburg

Weekly Trip to the Library This is a wonderful book to read with kids that are not too young because the book questions if Santa is real. My nanny employer has told me the phrase, “There is no Santa,” will never pass her lips. So, it might be better to read it to older kids who may be questioning if Santa is […]

Teaching Kids About Donating Money

Weekly Trip to the Library Since the holiday season is the perfect time to teach kids about giving and money management last Saturday we recommended reading Not Your Parents’ Money Book by Jean Chatzky with your charges. One of the author’s most basic lessons in the book is to be a financial success you must: 1. […]