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So cool to meet award-winning author and illustrator C.G. Esperanza at ALA 2022! He shows how he illustrated himself into the amazing story 'Soul Food Sunday' authored by Winsome Bingham @armyvetfive His vivid, radiant graffiti-style illustrations are so engaging and reflective of Black and Latin culture. His work demonstrates a powerful, inclusive visual way to invite young readers to our stories. Check him out!
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This chapter book series from @capstonepub is a perfect selection for beginning, independent readers.
Written by Suman Nuurali, the books feature a curious, adventurous, empathetic Somali boy named Sadiq. Each book shares Sadiq's life as he experiences life solving everyday 3rd grader predicaments, with the help of his family and friends. The books share the same background information about his Somali, Muslim family living in Minnesota. Also included at the beginning of each book are Somali words that are integrated allowing the reader to effortlessly incorporate new language concepts while reading the text. Somali culture is embedded through the storylines teaching the reader about their customs. Pair non-fiction books with this series so young people can learn more about Somali history and culture. Check this series out at your local library or Black bookstore! We Are Here Lit! attended an inspiring session by two Black male authors changing the narrative of young Black boys and the Black male identity.
Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond, college friends, and fathers of Black sons discussed the August release of the upcoming book Black Boy, Black Boy. Vibrantly illustrated by Ken Daley, the hope of this book according to the authors is to widen the perspective of young readers by introducing them to Black males from the Diaspora beyond the athletes and MCs. The author's hopes were that young Blacks males see their possibilities as endless and beyond the narrow perspectives and options expected or given to them. We wish Kimanda and Redmond much success with their new release and hope as authors they share more stories for kids from the Black male perspective. Do you want to engage middle and high school young males with reading? Try magazines. Magazines provide a glimpse of different worldviews. They provide topics that may not come up at home or the classroom. They also help develop reading skills, expand vocabulary and can offer a good conversation starters. Other reading skills that can be gained from reading magazines are: -High interest, engaging articles -Shorter, manageable chunks of information -Provides context and background knowledge -Students practice reading informational text -Interpersonal communications language skills -Focus on text structures and text features -Students practice close reading -Expand vocabulary -Talk and write about informational text -Textbook supplement -Media literacy -Differentiated reading levels -Visualization Many public libraries subscribe to print and e-magazines.   We Are Here Lit! Wants to celebrate the father figures who help raise our children and to help them find their way.
The following book, are examples, of providing the images and representation of fatherhood to counter the narratives so often portrayed around Black males. Check them out at your local library or support your local/online Black bookstore. If you like the content, please follow us and pass are profile to those who might be interested. Join us this Black Music Month with special guest Bakari Kitwana and let's talk about 'Leveraging MC Dreams Towards Literacy'.
Black culture encapsulates a colorful oral tradition that can be seen in the West African tradition of the Griot, the Black Arts Movement, to today's Hip Hop Generation, as recently seen in Kendrick's Mr. Morale & the Big Stepper. We have continually seen the 'Us vs. Them' Hip Hop history debates. How can we better create The Bridge to work collectively to create intergenerational ties to Black oral and written stories and literary traditions to build strong young black male communicators of The Message? Bring your thoughts, opinions, pedagogy, scholarship, and questions as we discuss our music and literary history to build our young Black Brotha's voices. Monday, June 27th, 7-8pm EST on the We Are Here Lit! Facebook & YouTube Live pages. Please share with those who might be interested. I got to see Trombone Shorty last night in Boston. It was an AMAZING show. So many talented musicians, vocalists, and lively music, including Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, himself. His story is one of his brother's mentorship, perseverance, the love of music, and leadership. It reminded me of the two picture books about how he became such a talented musician. His books, beautifully illustrated, tell his inspirational story. Check them out at your local library or buy them at your local/online Black bookstore. If you like our content, please Follow Us for updates and share our site with those who might be interested. |
AuthorSWE ARE HERE will provide you book reviews, discussions, news, and programming about literature and literacy by and about Black males. This site will also feature vlog conversations on topics related to the promoting literacy and voice for Black boys and young men. Archives
May 2023
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