Happy New Year!
Our theme for January is Human Rights. (As always, the theme is only a suggestion. Diverse posts on alternate topics are always welcome.)
I wanted to share with you a great discovery: a novel in verse that tells the story of quiet heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.
Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by
2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark case that made mixed race marriages legal. That Richard and Mildred’s very last name is “LOVING” and that their crime is loving each other says something about fate perhaps.
In 1955, in Virginia — state slogan: Virginia is for Lovers (formerly Virginia is for history lovers)– two teenagers fell in love amidst segregation, racism and cruelty. Their marriage broke a Virginia 1924 law to preserve racial integrity and keep children of partial white ancestry out of all white schools. The fact that this law implied that one race was superior to another — this legislation allowed Negroes to marry those of other races, thus subjecting them to losing their racial purity — was an inconsistency that won their case.
It took nine long years during which they lived in exile in Washington DC for them to win their case. Told in mesmerizing free verse that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, this chapter book is as important as their landmark case. [Novel in verse, ages 8 and up.]
p.s. If you want more background, I have this post on my Instagram.
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Upcoming Theme
Our theme for the current month is Human Rights. Themes are a suggestion only; all diverse book posts are welcome. If you’re interested, you can start planning now for our upcoming themes …
- January 21st linkup: Human Rights. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is celebrated in the US in January, think about your favorite books to share with children about the importance and the history of human rights and/or civil rights.
- February 4th and 18th linkups: Love. Let’s spread our love of diverse books by sharing diverse books about love, families, and relationships.
Most Clicked Post from Last Time
Our most-clicked post from last time was 5 Positive Picture Books for Ramadan by Katie at The Logonauts. This post shares five different books about the holiday of Ramadan, some that take place in Middle Eastern countries and others in America. All highly recommended!
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
So many interesting topics! I’m going to visit each of these sites and tweet their posts this week. Thanks for the roundup of children’s books.
Thanks so much for your kind support Mona!
The book on the Loving case sounds excellent.
Hi MaryAnne,
The same author that wrote Josephine last year … it’s an excellent and eye opening book about how two very ordinary people changed the law against mixed race marriage. And I didn’t realize how much sacrifice it took or that they really weren’t activists; just two people who loved each other and their children.
That’s a neat book – I will see if my library has it! 🙂
Hi Erik,
I hope you can find a copy! It’s a great book and I’m sure you will enjoy it!