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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.
The Latest Posts
Book Club Notes: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
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
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
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
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
Q: Amber, how do you feel about books featuring Black characters or people written by non-Black authors? My answer: Writer Corinne Duyvis...
7 Benefits of Launching a Kids’ Book Club
When I launched Heritage Book Club nearly seven years ago, I had no idea that it would grow to be such an incredible blessing to my family and...
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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.
20 Middle Grade Books: Black Girls Living Life
I've been very vocal about children needing literary mirrors and windows. I've also consistently shared that the books featuring Black people can't...
African American Picture Study: Artist Joshua Johnson
Artist Joshua Johnson (c. 1763—c. 1824) was an American painter of African and European ancestry from the Baltimore area, and he's...
Why I Talk About Black Books so Much
“Why do your kids only read books about Black people? Isn’t that just as bad as white kids never reading about other people?” I assume...
African American Picture Study: Prince Demah
Prince Demah (c. 1745—March 1778) was an African American painter who was formerly enslaved and active in Boston in the late 1700s....
Black Composer: Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 12, 1799) was a French classical composer, virtuoso...
Book Club Notes: The Last Last Day of Summer
Our last book club meeting of the regular school year was The Last Last Day of Summer by Lamar Giles. Each month, I try to share the notes I use...
Ashley Bryan: African American Artist & Author Spotlight
Ashley Bryan (born July 13, 1923) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books, most of his subjects represent the Black experience,...
Juneteenth Books: Celebrating Freedom!
Last year, I wrote a little about what Juneteenth means to my family, and I shared about a road trip we took that gave us a chance to sit in the...
Black Cowboys Booklist: Finding Joy in History
There is hard history in every time period, but for the next two years, my family will be focusing on an especially tough time in U.S. history. A...
Sweet Tea & Cookies Multicultural Enrichment Guide
Sweet Tea & Cookies is a multicultural family celebration of the American South. But it’s not about state flags, birds, flowers, and...
Living Books vs. Lifegiving Books with Charlotte Mason
Last year, I gave a talk about books as mirrors and windows. Some of you may have heard it. There was much more to it than just this, but to...
Heritage Hymns: Curated Multicultural Hymns
“Heritage Hymns” is a curated collection of multicultural hymnal studies born of my desire to expand the traditional offering of resources for my...
17 Picture Books Featuring Black Artists
My children are drawn to stories of real-life creators fueled by passion, purpose, resilience, and imagination. We read books on all sorts of...
African American Picture Study: Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage (February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962) was an outstanding sculptor associated with the intellectual and cultural awakening known...
Recent Podcasts and Videos: Homeschooling, Worldschooling, and Motherhood
One of the things I love most about my work with Heritage Mom is getting to speak with dynamic women who inspire me with their questions and...
Black History Books Covering Colonial America and Revolutionary War Time Period (1650-1800 AD)
I've heard from many of you who have appreciated my Black history book recommendations for Early Modern (800-1650), 1800s Slavery, Civil War &...