“McKinley Morganfield was never good at doing what he was told. Especially when it came to playing in the mud. His mamma should’ve been mad. But she couldn’t hep but laugh, ‘Ah, my muddy baby. My sweet, muddy baby.’ McKinley’s mama gave him a life. And a laugh. And then she was gone. Forever. ‘Oh,…
Category: Black Hisoy Month
We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania by Laurie Krebs art by Julia Cairns
We All Went On Safari is an African Counting Tale written in rhyme and delightfully illustrated by Julia Cairns. The Swahili name of each of the numbers is a wonderful addition to the story. Following is a fabulous reading of the book by someone who knows how to pronounce the Swahili words. The video also…
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema – Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The text, a West African tale, is perfectly written, and the illustrations are superb. I have read this book to groups many times, and I have used the art in the book to teach art to all ages. Certainly, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears is a must-read…
Kente Cloth: Patterns to Color by kwaku ofori-ansa
In February, I am teaching about Black History to kids at a Museum, and although I am an author and an artist, I am white. My understanding of Kente cloth is limited, and yet, I plan to teach about it. I want the kids to design their own Kente patterns. Yet, I have had…
The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloh by Margaret Musgrove
“Once, long ago, in an Ashanti village in the country of Ghana, there lived two expert weavers. One weaver was called Kofi. The other one was Yaw. These men wove a simple cloth called nwen-ntoma. And everyone from the king of the Ashanti people to the poorest child wore it.” “Late one night, Kofi and…