books i love – Lightbulb Heart

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 lightbulbheart booklist, books i love, picture book resources, storylady

Books I Love: Stories About Bedtime

Do you have a bedtime routine? If you do, it might include stories. Most of my books are good stories for bedtime, but some of my favourite books are stories about bedtime! However you might get ready for bed, what we all have in common is wanting a good night’s sleep. That way, as author Nancy Redd says in Bedtime Bonnet, “we’re all ready for a brand-new day!”

Books in this video:

Little Bear Dreams, written and illustrated by Paul Schmid
Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey, written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin
Steam Train, Dream Train, written by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
How Do Dinosaurs say Good Night?, written by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Bedtime Bonnet, written by Nancy Redd, illustrated by Nneka Myers

Sleepytime Playlist

The deep work of Tricia Hersey and The Nap Ministry led me to create a week of videos dedicated to helping our young ones rest so their caregivers can find some rest. The sleepytime playlist currently contains two poems about The Sandman by Paul Laurence Dunbar, two lullabies (one with an art project, one with images from the Hubble Space Telescope images), and the above Books I Love segment. I am grateful for the message of radical rest The Nap Ministry is birthing in the world and I am proud to support this work on Patreon.

May 19, 2020June 26, 2020 lightbulbheart booklist, books i love, picture book resources, storylady

Books I Love! Books That Centre BIPOC Characters

I continue to be encouraged by the books being published by BIPOC authors and illustrators and more books centring BIPOC characters. Make no mistake – there need to be more.

Before our days moved pandemically, Bernadette Arthur at A Shared Table asked me to compile a list of picture books by BIPOC authors/illustrators and others that centre BIPOC characters. The family event she was gearing up for was around the theme of raising socially conscious kids. I’m making these resources available in hopes they might be helpful. Please let me know if you find that to be the case. I know I have growth edges and I’m happy to receive constructive criticism on both documents.

Booklist: Great Read-Aloud Books by BIPOC Authors/Illustrators and Others that Centre BIPOC Characters

Raising Socially Conscious Kids: Choosing Picture Books (tips for caregivers who are racialized as white)

Related: In our pandemic times, Bernadette’s currently working with En Conjunto to provide a series of Digital Dine-Ins. I heartily recommend these! The one I attended last night was about raising children to be aware and active changemakers and picture books came up a few times. No surprise, the Digital Dine-In Sue Littleton and I are co-hosting in June is about children’s books.

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 lightbulbheart booklist, books i love, picture book resources, storylady

Books I Love! Mis libros favoritos con palabras en Español

Some of my favourite books have words en Español! I love the art, text, and messages of all of these books and I am so thankful more books in Spanish and other languages are being made more widely available!

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty, illus. David Roberts
Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes, by Roseanne Greenfield-Thong, illus. John Parra
Green is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors, by Roseanne Greenfield-Thong, illus. John Parra
‘Twas Nochebuena, by Roseanne Greenfield-Thong, illus. Sara Palacios
Los Gatos Black on Halloween, by Marisa Montes, illus. Yuyi Morales
Jalapeño Bagels, by Natasha Wing, illus. Robert Casilla
Between Us and Abuela, by Mitali Perkins, illus. Sara Palacios
¡VAMOS! Let’s Go to the Market!, by Raúl the Third

What are you favourite books in Spanish?

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 lightbulbheart booklist, books i love, picture book resources, storylady

Books I Love! Surprise Pages

Some of my favourite books have what I call “surprise pages.” These stories have interesting page sizes, holes, or books within books!

Heads and Tails, by Madeleine Deny, illus. Peggy Nille
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
You Are Light, by Aaron Becker
Littlest Family’s Big Day, by Emily Winfield Martin
Bear’s Book, by Claire Freedman, illus. Allison Friend
Billy’s Booger, by William Joyce
In My Heart: a Book of Feelings, by Jo Witek, illus. Christine Roussey

What are some of your favourite “surprise pages” books?

May 5, 2020June 26, 2020 lightbulbheart booklist, books i love, picture book resources, storylady

Red

A red construction paper dress with stripes in a window to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit People.

May 5th is Canada’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and the Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls National Day of Action in the US.

How can we help?

When we don’t know how to start helping someone, listening to their stories is a very good place to start. In this video, I talk about my favourite books written and illustrated by, with, or about Indigenous Women and Girls.

Resources

I recognize talking about MMIWG2S with kids is not easy. Here are some resources for learning, art projects, books, and tips for getting started. Please note that these resources are for caregivers and educators, as the content may not be appropriate for all ages.

The REDress Project, created by Jaime Black, is an aesthetic response to violence against Indigenous women.
Red Dress Window Art file: this PDF includes the pattern I followed for the red dress I show in the video, links for adult learning, and tips for how to talk to younger kids about MMIWG.
Blog post from Mom Amy Desjarlais about how she started talking to her son and nephew about MMIWG.
The “Student and Youth Engagement Guide from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” contains definitions, history, and booklists and topics for discussions grouped by student age.
MMIWG Social Guide from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center holds links, graphics, and resources for awareness posting.

Books in the video

My Heart Fills With Happiness, written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrations by Julie Flett.
Mama, Do You Love Me? Written by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee.
Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, written and illustrated by Danielle Daniel.
Birdsong, written and illustrated by Julie Flett.
What’s my Superpower? Written by Aviaq Johnston and illustrated by Tim Mack.
When I Was Eight, written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard.
I Am Not A Number, written by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland. (recommended for middle grades and up)
The Water Walker, written and illustrated by Joanne Robertson.
Nibi’s Water Song, written by Sunshine Tenasco, illustrated by Chief Lady Bird.
When We Were Alone, written by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, written by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.
May We Have Enough to Share, written by Richard Van Camp with photographs by Tea and Bannock, and beaded artwork by Caroline Blechert.
You Hold Me Up, written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Danielle Daniel.