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BLACK CULTURE, HOMESCHOOLING, TRAVEL (AND OTHER THINGS FROM MY SWEET, IMPERFECT LIFE)

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I’m Amber

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My name is Amber O’Neal Johnston, and I started this website to document and discuss the joys and trials of raising my kids to love themselves and others.

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The Latest Posts

Book Club Notes: Talkin’ About Bessie

Books

Our 4th and 5th-grade book club recently wrapped up a meeting on Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, an illustrated...

Book Club Notes: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Books

I run a homeschool book club in my local community, and we recently read Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. We have five different age groups meeting in...

NEW! A Place to Belong Paperbook

Books

I'm thrilled to announce that A Place to Belong is now out in paperback with a gorgeous new cover! The new edition is lighter-weight and more...

Delighting in the Days by Wild+Free

Homeschool

I'm excited to be featured in Delighting in the Days, a new 132-page book of some of Wild+Free's best articles on childhood over the past few years....

Books & Things: Agreeing to Disagree

Books, Homeschool, Race

I’ve made a point not to disparage curricula, books, services, or products that fellow homeschool moms have created for this community. In fact,...

Including #OwnVoices Books

Books, Race

Q: Amber, how do you feel about books featuring Black characters or people written by non-Black authors? My answer: Writer Corinne Duyvis...

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Sign up now and receive my newly expanded Family Bonds book list, a curated collection of stories tied together with the common cord of familial bonds. You’ll also receive occasional emails featuring my latest thoughts, book recommendations, and diverse educational goodies.

Finding Good Books on Biblioguides

Books, Homeschool

People often ask me where I find the books that I read with my kids, and the best answer is "here, there, and everywhere," but I do have a few...

Juneteenth Books for Kids

Books

I'm totally pumped about Juneteenth National Independence Day because our favorite community event is back in person after two years of virtual...

A Place to Belong is Here!

Books, Homemaking, Homeschool, Race, Travel

I'm so excited to announce that my book, A PLACE TO BELONG, has officially launched! Many thanks to all of you who preordered, those who have...

Join My Book Launch Team!

Books

I’ve got some exciting news: It’s almost time for my first book to be published! It’s called A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and...

Middle Grade Books: Black Boys and Everyday Life

Books, Race

I've been promising this booklist for longer than I care to admit. As soon as I shared 20 Middle Grade Books: Black Girls Living Life, I started...

Is It Ever Okay to Read Twaddle?

Books, Homeschool

In a recent interview, I shared my thoughts about the use of twaddle in a Charlotte Mason home (or any home, for that matter). I've linked to the...

1800s Black History Books

Books, Homeschool, Race

My family will be studying the 19th century in the fall, and I’m excited to share my 1800s Black history books on enslavement, the Civil War, and...

My Charlotte Mason Homeschool Schedule

Homeschool

A while back, I wrote about Scheduling My Charlotte Mason Homeschool Day, and much of what I shared then still applies. We tweak things each term...

Our Morning Time Booklist

Books, Homeschool

Morning time can mean many things to different people, but one aspect that I find consistent is that it's an important and well-loved time of day in...

Diversity in a Charlotte Mason Education

Homeschool, Race

Some people feel that a Charlotte Mason education lacks diversity, and I understand where that idea is coming from. There are those who feel that...

African American Historical Fiction: Stories of the 1800s

Books, Homeschool, Race

Of all the elements of our Black history studies, African American historical fiction is a runaway favorite for my children (and for me too!). These...

Black History Books: Nonfiction Covering the 1800s

Books, Homeschool, Race

These nonfiction Black history books covering the 1800s are part of our broader history plans for the time period. The selections shared below cover...