A Lovely Reading Collective | I

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I’m grateful that my brown child will have a brown president in her history books, popular brown super heroes, powerful brown female role models, and even brown princesses! Despite the current political climate, each generation is more awake, more innovative, and more unified that those before it. I’m optimistic that my child will grow up in a better world than the one given to me. My job is to give her the tools to fly especially when the world attempts to knock her down and make her feel anything less that the amazing person God created her to be. In a society that tends to perpetuate the ugly weed of an idea that non-white skin is something “other” or less than, in our home I’m striving to water the beautiful idea that we are all simply different colors and shades of the incredible tapestry that is the human experience.

I want my brown toddler to celebrate all shades of people and inform herself of different cultures without feeling threatened by or superior to them. To do this she must first know and celebrate herself; learn to love and practice empathy and kindness with herself. It is important to nurture and reinforce this strong sense of self worth and confidence while she is young. An vital part of that is being mindful to create a safe and diverse environment with imagery she can relate to and see herself in. Books are an amazing element of that environment!

Today I want to share 5 books that we are enjoying right now that I believe are perfect for brown toddlers to enjoy. They all feature beautiful everyday stories with adorable brown characters. This will be the first and special edition in my new series “A Lovely Reading Collective,” that shares any books we are loving and think your Littles may enjoy as well! 🙂

1. GRANDMA’S TINY HOUSE

This gem is a cute counting book telling the story of a big family coming together for a tasty family gathering at Grandma’s house. It’s rhythmic flow is an easy delightful read and the colorfully and fun illustrations keep my little one engaged.

2. LOLA AT THE LIBRARY

This is a lovely book that takes your Littles on a fun trip to the library. My Sweet Bear and I visit our local library every week, so having a a book to reinforce her experiences and love of books is awesome!  The illustrations are large and adorable. It is a breezy read and just the right length for storytime.

3. PLEASE BABY PLEASE

This classic board book was a fast and surprising favorite for my little one. The sing song style of the book takes us through the lively day of an adorable and curious little girl. It is beautifully illustrated and fun to read. You can’t help but be animated as you read this book to your toddler. It is a short and sweet read, perfect for a quick evening storytime.

4. GIRL OF MINE

We love the vivid illustrations and sweet rhythms of this book. We sing along with the dad as he lulls his little girl to sleep in his arms. It is another short and sweet read ideal for nighttime.

5. LOLA LOVES STORIES

This book was an early favorite for storytime! You follow an adorable little girl through her week long journey of reading. Each day her parents read her a story and the next day she acts them out through imaginative play. This book encourages a love of reading and the joy of embracing imagination and creativity.

I’m wishing you all happy storytimes with your little bookworms. If your Littles are anything like mine, you will likely read all five in one sitting!

What book is your toddler loving right now? Let me know in the comments below or on social media with #LRCollective @ALovelyMommyBlog