Customized: Gale-Ann F.
Hi Gale-Ann! I’m so excited to be sharing these titles with you. I took into account your boys’ ages and the preferences and priorities you shared during our call. Please take a look, and let me know if you have any questions.
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. The picture book edition is a good option for Levi and Lemuel, and the chapter book would be enjoyed by Luc.
Why I chose these books: These books tell of a true story of survival against the odds. The story is just so good, and the fact that it’s real just makes it that much better. I would suggest that you have a “Pages & Popcorn” family event for this book. After the boys read it (or you read it aloud to all of them), your whole family can get pizza, pop popcorn, and watch the movie one night. Then ask the boys to discuss the major differences they found between the book and the movie – just for fun!
Eleven-year-old Elijah of Buxton lives in a Canadian settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah’s the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that — not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a “fra-gile” boy who’s scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it’s up to Elijah to track down the thief — and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.
Why I chose this book: This book takes place during the 1800’s, and it’s a compelling story that teaches about enslavement, freedom, hardships, and endurance, but from the perspective of a young black boy. Luc will learn so much about pre-Civil War history, but it will feel like leisure reading because it’s so engaging.
In Bud, Not Buddy it’s 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud’s got a few things going for him: His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue and Bud’s got an idea that those clues will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him–not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.
Why I chose this book: This book strikes just the right balance between teaching about life in a very difficult time period (Great Depression) and engaging boys in the relatable adventure part of the story. It’s an award-winning book, and is becoming a new “classic” for black boys.
Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Eventually, Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
Why I chose these books: I feel like these books may just suck Luc right in! They are available on audiobook, so don’t hesitate to let him listen to them rather than read the book – especially if he’s hesitant to get started.
In When Starts Are Scattered, Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings.
Why I chose this book: This is the graphic novel I mentioned during our call. The illustrations are brightly colored and engaging, but with 264 pages of an intense story it’s definitely intended for older children. It’s written by a New York Times bestselling author/artist as the story was told to her by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story and went on to help many other refugees. Note: Be sure to let Luc know that the God the people pray to in this book is Allah because most Somalians are Muslim. It is not our God.
In Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales we meet a Kenyan lion named Simba, a snake with seven heads, and tricksters from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena, and we learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. Translated from their original languages―Karanga, Nguni, Xhosa, and many others―these folktales are a testament to the craft of storytelling and the power of myth.
Why I chose this book: This book is a wonderful collection of stories originating in Africa but having relevancy for us as well. Many of the stories feature animals, and the unique and colorful illustrations help bring the stories to life. This is one of those books that you can revisit again and again as it is packed with many stories.
Imagine living in the heart of Africa. Imagine living in a place where the sun rises every morning over blue mountains. The Akimbo Adventures tell of a boy and his parents who live on the edge of an African game reserve. It’s his father’s task to protect the thousands of amazing animals who make it their home, and wildlife-loving Akimbo dreams of helping him. In these three adventures, Akimbo protects elephants from poachers, saves a lion cub from a trap, and rescues a man from a crocodile! This is a 3-in-1 collection, but if you prefer, you can purchase the titles separately as well.
Why I chose this book: My son is also 7 and going into 2nd grade, and he loves these stories. I feel confident that this will be a winner for your family. I like that it’s based in Africa, and that this little boy has so many wonderful adventures. He gets to be a kid doing kid stuff!
Oluwalase Babatunde Benson is No. 1. He’s the No. 1 Car Spotter in his village. The No. 1 car spotter in the world! When the family’s cart breaks down and there’s no way of bringing goods to market, it’s No. 1 who devises the Toyota Cow-rolla and saves the day. He runs errands for his family and helps Mama Coca-Cola feed the busloads of people who stop for her delicious fried akara. No. 1 even helps Grandmother get to the medical center when she can’t afford treatment.
Why I chose this book: As with Akimbo, my son really took to this series. The author, Atinuke, is Nigerian so I feel it lends itself well to authenticity. This is just another sweet addition to the shelves because it’s light-hearted and thoughtful, but also funny and full of adventure.
A reprint of a 1932 African American classic, Popo and Fifina tells of two children who leave their home in the hills of Haiti to move with their parents to a town by the sea. The next few months are full of adventures – adjusting to a new home, a trip back to the hills for a visit, Popo’s work as a carpenter’s apprentice, the children’s fun with a wondrous kits made by their father, and even a trip to the lighthouse at the end of the island and an amazing tropical storm. When Popo and Fifina was first published in 1932, it was greeted with universal approval. The New York Times praised its “simple home-like atmosphere” and suggested that all children’s books “should be written by poets.”
Why I chose this book: This is a fun read aloud for any of your kids. This book is particularly special because it is a rare older title written by two men who are among the creme de la creme of African American writers of the Harlem Renaissance. They are hailed as literary heroes in the black community, and it would be so nice for your children to “meet” them at a young age.
In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it’s too late? Each story in the Zoey and Sassafras series features a new magical animal with a problem that must be solved using science. There isn’t a set formula for each book; Zoey sometimes needs to run experiments, while other times she needs to investigate a mystery, and yet other times she needs to do research. Zoey models how to keep a science journal through her handwritten entries in each story.
Why I chose this book: I have Levi & Lemuel in mind for this series because it has its own brand of silly fun. The main character is a girl, but she’s not off doing ballet and playing dolls. Her activities and the storylines are universal and appealing to both boys and girls.
Tippy Limmey is no ordinary dog. Not only is he the only dog Leandra, Paul, and Jeannie have ever met with a first and a last name, he’s a living, breathing monster! When they ride their bikes, he chases them, snapping at their heels. When they run, he runs. If they cross the street, he follows. There’s no getting away from him — over him or under him. He’s their number one enemy. They try to come up with a plan to stop Tippy Lemmey, but nothing works. But then Tippy does something totally unexpected, and the kids realize that maybe he’s not their enemy after all.
Why I chose this book: I included it because it has all of the things kids love in a book – friendship, fun, adventure – and the book is about black kids but it’s not about them being black, if that makes sense. They are just kids who happen to be black. This is always one of the first books I give my kids to read once they’re able to read on their own, but it would also make a nice read aloud before they can read.