Month: May 2010

Book: “The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race”

The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race

by Desmond Williams

Another great find!

Father in a multiracial family, Desmond Williams, puts pen (pencil) to paper and creates a soon-to-be-published graphic novel The Painted Man: What My Young Son Taught Me About Race. The collection is a “coming of race” memoir that finds a dad confronted by racially charged questions posed directly by his young son and the people with whom they come into contact.

This book can be used as a conversation starter, a self-reflection inducer, or simply a window into an experience that might not reflect your own.

BTW, I found it interesting that Williams is from Brooklyn, NY. I would have thought “they” were much more versed in this thing we call “race”.

More about The Painted Man

Children’s Book: “Mother’s Day” (multiracial)

Mother’s Day

by Anne Rockwell

or see if it’s at your local library!

Happy Mother’s Day!

In my constant endeavor to find books that reflect diversity, I ran across this great book by author Anne Rockwell. I thought the timing couldn’t be more perfect!

Mother’s Day is set in Mrs. Madoff’s class where children (reflecting different cultures and ethnicities) discuss the different ways they will celebrate the holiday, making breakfast, hiking, snuggling, etc. The children were asked to bring in a button for class that they use in making a special tissue paper flower for mom (bonus: instructions are included). I enjoyed many things about the book (illustrations are darling) but I especially liked that a single mother is represented along with a grandmother raising her granddaughter. The children and mothers spent lots of time picking out their button and had little stories about why they chose their particular button. Mom’s didn’t know what the button was for and were surprised that it was to make a flower. Really sweet book! Buy your copy here!

Do you have any books to share?