Martin & Mahalia : His Words, Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

It's no secret that there are a lot of great books out there about Martin Luther King Jr. I've written about plenty here on my blog, and I've even done features for other blogs full of titles celebrating this amazing man. Dr King's life is rich in elements that make a good story, the kind kidlit authors can't resist, and that's probably why there are so many great books out there.

But with an abundance of excellent works, with more being published each year, it's kind of hard to find a fresh approach. Yet, that's exactly what bestselling authors Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney have done in their new book Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song. And they did it by combining the story of one incredible preacher, Martin Luther King Jr., with that of a woman whose voice was heaven on earth, Mahalia Jackson.

Kids to whom this book is targeted will no doubt recognize the name of the first subject here, but likely very few will know the second. No matter: the Pinkneys do a fantastic job of setting the stage for Martin and Mahalia's work together by beginning when both were children. Each excelled in their own way: Martin through his oratory skills and Mahalia through her musical talents. Both used their gifts to spread the message of the gospel, of peace and hope and love to all. And they did this in the South, in the time of Jim Crow, when things were, as Andrea Davis Pinkney puts it, "Separate, but nowhere near equal."

Both Martin and Mahalia looked around and saw that things needed to be different, that there needed to be equality and freedom for all Americans. And so their common mission brought them together, first as part of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and then for the March on Washington. I love the imagery that the Pinkneys use for the March, the way they set the stage with the marchers walking stoically on even as hecklers jeered and tried to distract them. Once in place at the Lincoln Memorial, Mahalia used her "brass and butter" voice to draw the crowd together, to focus and settle them. And then Martin delivered what is arguably one of the best-known pieces of oration in the history of our country, and one which brings chills to me even now, the "I Have a Dream" speech.

As always with a Pinkney collaboration, this title relates historical detail in a way that keeps readers turning pages, but never shortcuts the facts. It's bolstered by an afterword by both author and illustrator, plus an historical timeline and suggestions for further reading and listening. I wouldn't be surprised to see Martin & Mahalia on awards lists this year, it's that well-executed. Brian Pinkney's illustration of the crowd on the National Mall is one of the last in the book, and it is jaw-dropping. His use of abstract shapes and swirling colors, coupled with the imagery of the dove that carries throughout the book, brings home the power and peace of that day.

Together Martin and Mahalia, each gifted in their own unique way, made the March on Washington a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, and one that our country will never forget. And I'm in awe of the way the Pinkneys have captured that partnership through their own, a marriage of Andrea's lyrical prose and Brian's arresting images. This book, like its subjects, won't soon be forgotten.

Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney, published by Little, Brown
Ages 7-10
Source: Library
Sample: "Martin's sermons and Mahalia's spirituals told their listeners: You are here. On the path. Come along. Step proud. Stand strong. Be brave. Go with me. To a place, to a time, when we all will be free. People listened and believed."
Highly Recommended

Why Books Can Be Windows, Not Walls

Recently I stumbled across this article that spotlights the continued dearth of multicultural titles in the world of children's literature. As I said when I posted a link on Facebook, I wish this was a surprise to me, but it sadly is not. I'm sure that others who spend their time immersed in books for children probably aren't shocked either. Groups like the Cooperative Children's Book Center at UW-Madison, mentioned in the article, scour the record of titles published each year, tracking the number of books by and about people of color that are released. (If you want some fascinating reading, check out the CCBC's archives, where director KT Horning and her incredible staff post their yearly essays on the state of publishing.) What's really startling about the CCBC research is that the rate of kid's books by people of color published has never exceeded 5%.

Let that sink in a moment.

Of all the books published in any given year, 95% are by white authors.

True, there are books about multicultural characters being written by white authors - after all, I'm a white mama writing about race. But still, the rate of multicultural titles is very, very low. What's so sad about that is that it flies in the face of what's really happening in our country. Our society is becoming increasingly diverse; if you don't believe me on that fact, take a look at this detailed analysis of census data and the implications it carries for diversity in the population of US children. In researching a paper I wrote last fall on children's literature for multiracial families, I found multiple sources indicating that the lack of representation of their own reality can have a major impact on the identity formation of young children.

And really, is it any wonder? If you never saw yourself reflected in the world around you, wouldn't you grow to be a little self-doubting?

So if the world is becoming more diverse, then why aren't books reflecting that diversity? The short answer is white privilege; the long answer, as with so many things related to race, is more complicated. Publishers often argue that multicultural books don't sell. Booksellers and librarians may use the same argument. "We buy them and they don't circulate," as a school librarian in one of my classes put it. And in the days of ever-shrinking budgets, who can afford to buy what people don't want to read?

But if fewer titles are published, then fewer titles are reviewed by critics and even fewer are purchased by bookstores and libraries. The smaller the pool to draw from the more "other" these books seem. And in a world where everyone gravitates toward what they believe is HOT HOT HOT, quiet titles are going to be overlooked. I mean, I think The Hunger Games is just fantastically written, but is that really why everyone and their brother has read it? Or was it more about the drive to not be left out of the loop?

And then there's the fact that so many of the multicultural titles that make it into print are "issues" books. You know what I mean here, the ones that are about accepting others no matter how different, or are about standing up in the face of discrimination. Don't get me wrong, I think those titles are hugely important, and all our kids need to hear these messages, regardless of their skin tone. But honestly, kids get sick of being lectured to, and if they feel that a title is going to hit them over the head with a big ol' lesson, well, they're going to tune out. Trust me. What is immensely more effective are what I call "inclusion" titles, where the diversity of the characters is secondary to the plot or theme of the story. You know, the book that is such a great read that you're not constantly sidelined by the heavy-handed message the author is trying to get through.

So what's a parent or industry professional to do here? First off I think we all need to quit hiding behind excuses or being timid about this issue. Booksellers and librarians, take some time to examine your motives. I know we all think of ourselves as impartial, but the truth is we carry plenty of biases. Maybe you don't buy a certain author's new release because his/her older titles never circulated. Fair enough - but what's the buzz behind the new book? Check out the kidlitosphere, read some review journals, talk to other professionals. More importantly, read it yourself - and if you love it, sell the hell out of it. I'm just going to say it: multicultural books may require a bigger boost than other titles. I mean, you know the new Mo Willems is going to fly out the door, but something like Big Red Lollipop might require more of a boost from you. Integrate these titles into booktalks, feature them in displays, handsell them to customers or patrons, include them on booklists. The more you talk the more your message will get out there, and I promise you that the checkouts or purchases will follow. Make it your mission to get that title into the hands of a child who needs it, and don't give up!

Parents, if you feel as strongly as I do about having your kids represented in the literature they read, make your voice heard. You don't have to be obnoxious about it, but take some time to talk to your bookstore buyer or youth services librarian about what's on the shelves. Maybe they never realized that there are interested parties out there, and they'll make more of an effort to look for quality titles if they know you want them. If you are frequent library users like us, or are lucky enough to shop at an indie bookstore, I guarantee that your needs are hugely important to the powers that be. If you're buying at a chain, take some time to email their corporate office about your concerns. Above all, vote with your dollars and your checkouts. Libraries and bookstores are strapped for cash, and they can't stock books that don't show turnaround. It does very little good to entreat a store to stock more diverse selections if you're not going to follow through by buying them. So when you see more color popping up on the shelves, support the efforts of that store or library. Tell your friends, other parents, teachers or babysitters. And please try to track down the person who made that diversity possible, and thank them for their efforts. We all want to feel appreciated, and this will go a long, long way to continuing the process.

Look, this is something I'm passionate about because I feel we owe it to our children to give them books that are mirrors AND windows, that show them not only the reality they already know but one they may not otherwise see. In a world where image is everything, we really can make a difference in the lives of our young people. Start a movement that doesn't end until every child recognizes themselves in a book they read - can you imagine how different that might make our world??

Picture Book Review - Black All Around by Patricia Hubbell

Sprout recently started a new preschool, and among other things that they did his first few weeks was color mixing. These brave souls actually took it on themselves to present a bunch of preschoolers with paint colors and allow them to try mixing different shades to see what the result was. Wow, did this ever make a BIG impression on Sprout. Though he's heard a few books about the topic (most notably The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown and White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker), he's never seemed too interested. But give the child a bunch of colors to mix himself and the boy was talking about it nonstop.

Lesson for mommy: more hands-on art stuff at home, in spite of the mess.

Anyway, this got us talking and thinking more about colors. One of the things Sprout mentioned frequently was that when you mix up a bunch of colors, you always got black. "Just black, Mama," was how he put it. Black's a color too, I told him, but he seemed unimpressed -- and kept telling me that his favorite color is orange. Of course I felt I needed to think of a way to convince him that black is a pretty awesome shade on its own.

Luckily, there's a book for that: namely, Patricia Hubbell's Black All Around. In this fun color story, a young girl begins looking at the world around her and noticing all the places she sees the color black. It's in animals - a horse, a cat, beetles, labradors. It's in music - piano keys and clarinets. It's in the environment - fertile dirt, tree trunks, the night sky. And it's in her family - "Daddy's arm, Momma's cheek." (Of course, that last example is arguably more brown, but it's a cultural construct.)

What she notices is that there are all kinds of shades of black, and all kinds of places to find the color. I love the sense of play that's brought to the topic. You'd think a book about the color black would have a mostly dark palette, but illustrator Don Tate (who we love from Ron's Big Mission and Summer Sun Risin') brings in gobs of spirited color. While the family plays with finger puppets (black birds, goats and bunnies), Tate sets the scene against a backdrop of light walls and colorful clothing choices. The effect is that the richness of the black objects really shines through, and little ones will see black in a whole new way. No way is it boring, black's got personality!

For kids who are just beginning to think about color, this is a good introduction to the topic. No, Hubbell never dives into the either-or skin color issue, and her purpose doesn't seem to be solely racially centered. Instead, this is more of a celebration of black, a way for young children to begin noticing the shades of black and to internalize a positive message. And in a world where villains wear black and phrases like "black sheep" or "blackmail" are common, it seems to me that turning the negative connotations around has tremendous value.

And after reading this one, you'll have a new appreciation for the way the color black enriches our world!

Black All Around by Patricia Hubbell, published by Lee & Low Books
Ages 2-6
Source: Library
Sample: "Look high, look low, look everywhere. . . . The wonderful color black is there! / Sleek and jazzy, warm and cozy. Beautiful black, black all around. . . "
Recommended

How White is Your World?

I'm taking a study break from reading about diversity to write a blog post about diversity.

Hmm, can you tell where my heart is these days?

One of my classes this semester is Multicultural Children's Literature. It is nearly the toughest class I've ever taken (save an undergrad linguistics class that was INSANELY hard, but interesting). My reading level for the class is beyond what any reasonable person could handle. My papers and class discussions are challenging. And just when I think I have a handle on it all, something else comes along to upset the apple cart, like the massive paper I need to get cracking on but for which I still haven't chosen a topic.

But really, I think anyone parenting transracially should take a class like this. Because so much of what our children learn about race is formed through how we live our lives, and the materials we choose to bring into them. Through this class I've read and talked a lot about how racial identity is formed -- and it is formed a whole lot sooner than most people think it is. In fact, in this interview Professor Erin Winkler discusses studies that now show children as young as 3-5 years old may begin to use race to identify and exclude. Yikes! And, bias comes as part of the larger process of enculturation, which means kids learn bias from society, not just from the adults in their lives.

Did you get that?

Let me reiterate: kids learn bias from society -- and as most of us know, society does not offer equality of opportunity for everyone.

So it's up to us as parents to educate our kids as much as possible about diversity, particularly where it concerns race. Because studies also show that kids notice race beginning at a very, very young age (see this article - a bit long but worth reading - for more). So ignoring it, or putting off conversations until our kids are older might just result in some serious misconceptions for our children. This is especially crucial for those of us who are parenting transracially, but don't think that just because everyone in your household "matches" that these aren't important issues. Because really, we live in a diverse world, where people look differently and live differently and believe differently. And tolerance is a keystone of the kind of society I want to live in, and where I want to raise my son.

How does this come back to literature? Easy -- look at the books on your shelves, and the DVDs in your cupboard, and the toys your children play with. Does everyone look alike? Are all your bedtime reads "classics" that might harbor hidden stereotypes? Could all the dolls be sisters? Maybe it's time to mix things up a bit. Add in some multicultural family sets. Read a story set in India, or one set in Nigeria. Choose a Thanksgiving title that honors Native Americans. Watch a movie about how families live around the world. Pick out a new friend whose skin is a little darker.

Above all, talk. Talk about skin color, talk about religion, talk about difference. Talk about ability, talk about gender, talk about acceptance. When your kids ask "why is that guy in a wheelchair?", don't shush them. Talk to them about it, and if possible, let them talk to the person in question -- if it's my husband, believe me, he WANTS to talk to your kids about disability. Above all, be open about the things that make us different as people, and the things that draw us together. Because if your kids see that you are uncomfortable talking about how someone is different, what message will they take away from that encounter?

Not too long ago I was at the park with Sprout and a little guy he was playing with asked if I was Sprout's mommy. I said yes, and the boy said, "But you don't look the same." I told him no, we didn't, because Sprout was born in Africa. "Oh, okay," said the boy. "Can he come swing with me?". And that was that. Simple. Honest question, honest answer.

If diversity is a "life lesson" you try to teach your kids, it's going to come off awkward and be hard to approach. If diversity is a walk that you live every day, where your kids see that people come in all shapes, sizes, colors and varieties, then accepting difference will be a natural thing for them. And isn't that what we all want, just to be accepted for who we are, recognized for our unique gifts and personalities?

Be accepting. Be inclusive. And first and foremost, be open -- with yourself, with your children, and most importantly, with others. The richness your world will take on may just surprise you.