Mother Talkers :: Caution: This book contains no facts

Caution: This book contains no facts

by Erin

Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:51:15 AM PDT

Here is, yet, another good diary. Where are the Dr. King children's books? Thank you, Erin! -Elisa

First of all, first of all, when I walk into a bookstore or library in early to mid January, I want to see a Martin Luther King display. Don't misunderstand--I like Valentines Day. I'm even one of those rare people who loves the red, white and pink aesthetic. It warms my heart. Neither would I advocate commercializing Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I see little value in the idea of candy Dr. King heads.

Erin's diary :: ::

However, in an establishment that is at least officially dedicated to education, I'm of the opinion that Martin Luther King Day has more value than Valentines Day.

But all I saw when I went looking for a young children's book about Martin Luther King was an entire store dedicated to Valentine's Day.

When Simone was younger, I had this book. It was over simplified, but it was aimed at the under five set. However, our copy suffered an unfortunate end, so yesterday I decided to replace it. I assumed that it would be on a display table, since it was January 9.

Not only was I mistaken, but when I asked for that book or a similar one, the only thing that turned up was a Ready-To-Read book called Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The kids were getting restless and it was only four dollars, so I bought the book without previewing it.

Which brings me to my second point. I had naively assumed that a book with this title would be about Martin Luther King. Is that so strange? I searched google and amazon and could not turn up a link, so I'll share the summary on the back with you.

When Mrs. Connor's class learns about a great man, they discover their own dreams and hopes for a better world.

But Mrs. Connor's class did not learn about a great man. There were exactly two pieces of information about Dr. King. 1) A crude drawing of a statue of his torso and 2) the vague statement that he "had a dream." What was that dream? It was not included in the book, since the rest of it was dedicated to the class telling each other their dreams, and at the very end Mrs. Connor's dream "that all your dreams will come true."

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I'm irritated.

MotherTalkers, how do you explain Dr. King to your very young?

Tags: MLK, education, stupid books (all tags)

ITA (0 / 0)

DD's book collection is growing quite rapidly, mostly due to my firm attachment to keeping books rather than borrowing them. I've started trying to diversify her reading material (she has, seriously, 4 children's Bibles. This Indian book is in the mail) and I was pleasantly surprised to see a section for MLK Jr. books in her scholastic catalog. But at the bookstore? Nada.

by lilianna28 on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:09:44 AM PDT
- That's another thing (0 / 0)
  
  I've had trouble finding. Books on religion other than Christianity or sometimes Judaism. I'd like to at least tackle the big 5. I guess that's what Unitarian church is for.
  
  by Erin on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:43:50 PM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
Here! (0 / 0)

Read her Miles's seminal work on the subject, The Fight For Civil Rights.

;-)

On a serious note, I will say that most schools do at least a mini-unit on Dr. King in January. Miles certainly seemed to get a lot out of it. I'm not surprised a bookstore wouldn't have much, but let us know about the library. That's where I'd be shocked not to see a nice display.

Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old

by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:18:20 AM PDT
- Recommend (0 / 0)
  
  I will recommend Miles's work in this area. Very well done!
  
  by Lisa in Austin on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 02:00:27 PM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
  - Thanks! (0 / 0)
    
    I was proud of him for wanting to do that entry. Big thoughts for little kids, but little kids understand the meaning of injustice, don't you think? One of the first phrases a kid learns is "That's not fair!"
    
    Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old
    
    by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:09:54 PM PDT
    
    [ Parent ]
- Miles (0 / 0)
  
  is a great writer. What can't he do?
  
  I also love the note from grandma.
  
  by Erin on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:39:08 PM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
  - add numbers under pressure... (0 / 0)
    
    Today he had a breakthrough on this, but his processing speed under timed testing conditions is pretty uneven.
    
    Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old
    
    by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:01:27 PM PDT
    
    [ Parent ]
Books on MLK (0 / 0)

I did a post last year on children's books about Martin Luther King, Jr., aimed at the very young. (Preschool, not toddler.) That doesn't help get them into schools and bookstores, but perhaps people could request some of these specific titles as a way to start things moving.

--Dana
Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms
http://www.mombian.com

by Dana on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 11:58:58 AM PDT
Seth says (0 / 0)

"MLK wanted Black people and White people to have equal stuff and to be treated the same."

I think this is an easy message for kids to understand - I don't know a book off-hand, but I do think it's an easy conversation to have.

Seth also told me that he knows MLK was killed by a white man who didn't agree with him and wanted him to stop.

by Sue in Queens on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 03:11:31 PM PDT
- sounds like he got the gist (0 / 0)
  
  I think MLK Day has succeeded in bringing the civil rights conversation into the classroom at an earlier age, which is great!
  
  Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old
  
  by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:15:43 PM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
- I feel like (0 / 0)
  
  I could explain MLK and civil rights to her if she understood about racism to begin with. It's probably good that she doesn't, so maybe I should leave it alone, but it also seems best to introduce it at home. I've only recently told her that we've never had a "girl" president or one with brown skin. It doesn't seem to make sense to her, but then again it doesn't make sense, period.
  
  by Erin on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:41:26 PM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
  - Poster of the Presidents (0 / 0)
    
    When Miles got interested in American History a couple of years ago, we bought one of those classroom posters of the presidents.
    
    Nothing like a poster of white male after white male to illustrate the point!
    
    You're right, kids don't associate any kind of attitude toward people based on skin or gender until it's instilled in them. While my kids are both in racially and ethnically diverse educational settings, I've been sorely disappointed by the gender divide that has developed in them as a result of peer interaction.
    
    We've had to discuss this with Miles, as he got defensive on seeing some kind of "girl power" thing related to scientists and started dissing girls. We talked about all the female scientists we know and that it's normal to have both male and female scientists and it doesn't mean males are less good at science or vice versa. He was confused, poor kid!
    
    Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old
    
    by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 09:06:37 PM PDT
    
    [ Parent ]
Just got (0 / 0)

a newsletter from our local PBS station's kids' club and it includes this book among its recommended reading:

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Doreen Rappaport.

They say it's for kids ages 5-9, Kindergarten - Second Grade Read Aloud or Third Grade Read to Self. This might have been one that Miles read, I'm not sure.

Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old

by Hillary on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:09:03 PM PDT
Thanks for all (0 / 0)

the suggestions. I'll be looking into those books.

by Erin on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:42:00 PM PDT
Hard to know when to bring it up (0 / 0)

My son is 3, and I plan to be really proactive about talking to him about race. However, at this point I'm not sure he has any awareness of race. He's exposed to enough people with different skin colors to see them all as normal, just like different colored hair.

So I'm worried that talking about it too soon will make him more aware of someone's race, which I don't think it really necessary at this point. (Not that I'm saying colorblindness is ideal in adults, but I think it's nice to let kids just see other people as people when they're little and free of stereotypes).

I used to play to CD "Free to Be" for him, but then realized that it might end up teaching gender stereotypes. I don't want him to know yet that some people think boys shouldn't play with dolls, etc.

I think I'll wait until he asks questions, and go from there.

by Treena on Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 12:46:36 PM PDT

Permalink | 15 comments

Caution: This book contains no facts

by Erin

Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:51:15 AM PDT

Daily Kos Help

ITA (0 / 0)

That's another thing (0 / 0)

Here! (0 / 0)

Recommend (0 / 0)

Thanks! (0 / 0)

Miles (0 / 0)

add numbers under pressure... (0 / 0)

Books on MLK (0 / 0)

Seth says (0 / 0)

sounds like he got the gist (0 / 0)

I feel like (0 / 0)

Poster of the Presidents (0 / 0)

Just got (0 / 0)

Thanks for all (0 / 0)

Hard to know when to bring it up (0 / 0)

Navigation

Menu

Advertising