Trauma and Racism: Picture Books Open Hard Conversations

My intended audience for this blog is adults, although nothing in it would be off-limits to younger readers. I wish I could say the same for the non-stop coverage of current events on mainstream and social media. 

Many adults I know find themselves overwhelmed by the events and by the graphic coverage and commentary. Just imagine the impact of this exposure on young people, and that includes teens and preteens, not just preschool and elementary age kids.

Images of trauma, threats, hate speech, and stereotyping surround us all. It's clear that even adults often lack the filters and analytic skills to sort and process fact from opinion, truth from exaggeration, partial truth from more complex realities. 
Young people need to pass through developmental stages to separate reality from fantasy in normal times. In the current social and political climate they are particularly in need of support and direct, guided discussions with trusted adults. The Washington Post  has this article entitled: HOW SHOULD PARENTS AND TEACHERS TALK TO KIDS ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE. The frequent tragedies portrayed in the news float atop the political language we witnessed so far during this election year. It's frightening but likely that this may only be a prelude to what's to come in the fall, but effects are already evident. (THE TRUMP EFFECT IN SCHOOLS). 

School Library Journal recently posted this list of recommended titles for young adults and mature middle grade readers. (Here) I've read every one of these titles and I urge adults to read them, share them, discuss them. Several are particularly valuable in their use of distinctly different voices and points of view regarding a single news event.

When I saw that post I knew I'd want to share a list of picture books for younger readers. Not that I haven't featured important titles on these topics in the past, including this post on non-fiction titles from 2013. Check it out for stories of Jackie Robinson's courage in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball and  Satchell Paige's demonstration of quiet confidence and superior skills despite his exclusion. 

Several valuable concepts can be developed and discussions launched with these and the other titles I'll suggest in this post.

Racism and unequal treatment aren't new, but progress has been made. Keeping in mind that these two anecdotal/biographic profiles document the reality of the 1930s and 1940s in this country, compare that to the reality of our  eight-year-olds who have never NOT known a black president of the United States.
We are changing, and so are the books available to kids. I'll turn to my readings of fiction picture books for the Cybils Awards for some recent releases. Each is worthy for any purpose, but are ideal for discussions surrounding current events. 

Chronicle Books, 2015

Trauma and destruction can be spawned by Mother Nature as readily as by human nature. One book that incorporates the power of individual effort (AND ATTITUDE) through good times and bad is award-winning MARVELOUS CORNELIUS: HURRICANE KARINA AND THE SPIRIT OF NEW ORLEANS, by Phil Bilder. (Check out the awards here)
Of all the books I read and considered in the past year, this one stays with me for many reasons. For an extensive review and comments, check my post from earlier in the year, here. This is just one paragraph from my Goodreads review:

"This book bounces, sings, captures a city and culture as if it is character itself, and shifts scenes throughout, from the earliest pages where the grittiness is transformed by the touch (and hard work) of Cornelius to sparkling and appealing. Eventually, the overwhelming destruction of nature's force is countered by the binding and building of a community, inspired by the spirit of Cornelius." 

If you haven't seen it yet, a short video clip made by the mother of triplets suggests that this kind of day-to-day personal interaction, appreciation of service, and celebration of daily work continues to build (and rebuild) communities. It only takes a few minutes, so please watch it here.

Kids Can Books, 2015

One question I ask kids (of any age) and now ask my friends when hard conversations are involved is this: Whatever you FEEL, or KNOW, or BELIEVE, or FEAR about what you've seen, in person or on media, try this thought experiment:

1. Do a real or mental "rewind" of the event. 
2. Find someone in the event you are certain you could NOT EVER imagine yourself to be, someone too "different" to understand.
3. Now picture yourself as the sister-brother-mother-child-cousin-best-friend of that "other".  
4. Take a moment and allow yourself to feel how well you do know them, love them, want the best for them.
5. Then replay the event, mentally or via media, and focus on that "other", feeling and reacting as you would if you cared. Loved.

MY FAMILY TREE AND ME, written and illustrated by Dusan Petricic, is a quirky and touchingly comic approach to exploring and sharing a diverse, wide-ranging family who have the most important thing of all in common-- they love each other.

Here's some of what I said about it in my review on Goodreads: 

"This is a valuable option for anyone working on family tree projects, as well as viewing diversity within extended and immediate family members. The centering of the full family tree with father's side and mother's side extending to the left and right pages is an original and strongly conceptual design. There are numerous visual subplots woven into each illustration, and the individuals are both realistic and caricatures in ways that make this family both "specific" and universal."  Of the many titles I might have shared this one came to mind based on that exercise I described above. Perhaps real and full acceptance of "others" will only come when each and every one of us can see ourselves as somewhere on such a diverse and quirky family tree. We live in a time of finding "leaves" on our ancestry trees and having DNA tests reveal our world-spanning genetic natures. In truth, we are ALL members of a quirky, diverse extended family, if we can just extend our imaginations and hearts wide enough to feel it. These suggestions barely scratch the surface, so I welcome others in the comments.

Who Do You Trust: Sports Heroes?

This has been a tough week for Major League Baseball, and even more so for its loyal fans. Sadly, the abuse of steroids and the rationale that players must "cheat to compete" has tainted every player with suspicion in much the same way that Lance Armstrong's eventual admissions did with cycling competitors.
I've written previous posts about the need to offer young readers legitimate and significant role models beyond pop culture icons. During the Summer Olympics last year I featured biographies of  remarkable athletes whose accomplishments involved overcoming extraordinary hardships to even compete in their respective sports.
Which brings me to the question of how to approach discussions of tarnished  heroes with children. The title of this post harkens back to  Who Do You Trust, a popular 1950's game show originally emceed by Johnny Carson. Now that was a time before corruption and deceit were so pervasive (it's kind of tricky to type with my tongue lodged in my cheek). 
It's a tough question: Who DO you trust?
Perhaps some of the best advice to give kids is to avoid going "all in" when hero-worshiping current stars, saving their highest admiration for those they know the best. In many cases that means those who play a direct role in their lives, "up close and personally", to twist a familiar sports phrase into something real.
Another bit of good advice is to look back in time to those who have completed their careers, those whose lives have been scrutinized and evaluated through the lens of history. "Old school" heroes, if you will.
Picture books offer that view with an irresistible blend of immediacy, engagement, and a healthy dose of authenticated content.

Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 2000

SATCHEL PAIGE, by Lesa Cline-Ransome with paintings by James E. Ransome, is one such book. It seemed particularly ironic to me that the announcement of baseball suspensions began immediately following the weekend designated to honor the Negro League teams. Leroy (that's his given name) was born with an abundance of natural gifts, as are so many sports and entertainment idols, but he devoted himself to developing those gifts through practice. He threw rocks instead of baseballs, but he also collected bottles for pennies and toted bags at the train station for tips to help his large family survive.
He swung a stick over his shoulders and hauled several satchels at once to increase his income (not to mention his strength) until his friends said he looked like a satchel tree.The name stuck. 

Perhaps his family's desperate economic conditions convinced him that some indiscretion was justified- he was caught stealing. That landed him in a reform school. There he had three meals a day, a pair of shoes, and a baseball team with an actual coach. It was a blessing in disguise.

The mystique of Satchel Paige's many baseball accomplishments is not based on hype, social media, or even statistics alone. His remarkable willingness to take what has been dealt to him (or what he may have dealt himself) and play that hand to the best of his ability is the quality that makes him a universally admired figure who transcends the realm of baseball. 
He trusted his talent to speak for itself.

Carolrhoda Books, 2013

Ransome makes the point that after decades of being excluded from Major League baseball because the color of his skin, "Satch" had little respect for the rules and rituals of the league, including pregame exercises and taking signals from the catcher. What he did respect was his own talent, and he NEVER saw a need to "cheat to compete".

I've written about this topic in earlier posts, including the 2013 release, SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio, by Robert Skead and Rob Skead, illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

Any young baseball fans who are disillusioned by the lies and rule-breaking of their current heroes need to look no further than non-fiction picture books like these and others to find role models that have already stood the test of time.  These names are remembered for their contributions to their professions and to their communities, not for flamboyance, or, worse yet, for inflicting damage on themselves, their fans, and their chosen careers.

Earlier this week Anna M. Lewis had a post on the  I.N.K. Blog(Interesting Nonfiction for Kids) with some related titles you should also check out:

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro LeagueBaseball by Kadir Nelson

King of the Mound - My Summer with SatchelPaige by Wes Tooke

Interesting Non-Fiction Picture Books (and a plug for I.N.K.)

The recent release of the movie, 42 (The Story of Jackie Robinson) has garnered accolades from all quarters. Some reviewers have commented that Robinson's story is "new" to younger generations, but is deeply ingrained in the DNA of the boomer generation. The hallmark of the movie's success is its ability to be relevant, instructive, and entertaining across audiences of any age or prior knowledge.

Sandpiper (Paperback), 1992

 I haven't seen the movie yet, but my favorite picture book depicting Jackie Robinson's story is TEAMMATES, by sports journalist and author, Peter Golenbock, illustrated by Paul Bacon. It has that same capacity to touch all ages with the facts and the heart of Robinson's story.
The brutal racist attacks leveled at Robinson when he integrated major league baseball far exceeded what we call bullying. His strength of character and resilience in the face of such attacks serve as a beacon for anyone being bullied. Of equal importance in this book is the role of PeeWee Reese, who  put his own popularity (and safety) at risk to step forward and take a stand against the vicious assaults against his teammate. Another life lesson for discussions of bullying.

Carolrhoda Books, 2013

A recent release portrays the equally cruel but longterm attacks of racism in the years before Robinson's courageous breakthrough. SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio, by Robert Skead and Rob Skead, illustrated by Floyd Cooper tells the story of rookie DiMaggio being tested against the best. He would have to try to get a hit against the undisputed (and unhittable) best pitcher anywhere- who just happened to pitch in the Negro League.
You don't need to be a baseball fan to appreciate the intensity and imbalance of the challenge game. Paige and DiMaggio shine through as personalities, and as extraordinary talents. Di Maggio passed his test, and Paige was told he'd be signed in a minute at top salary for the time, if only he were white.
The final pages and the author's note provide further details about segregation and Paige's eventual arrival in the Major Leagues and in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Albert Whitman & Co.,
Paperback, 1996

This next title suggests I'm moving the discussion of baseball to Chicago, but WHITE SOCKS ONLY, by Evelyn Coleman, illustrated by Tyrone Geter is a story of Jim Crow segregation in the south.
When a young girl heads into town to test the theory that you can fry an egg on hot summer cement, she's dressed for the occasion. Experiment over, she needs a drink. The "Whites Only" sign is no problem, because she wore her best white socks. The confrontation that ensues involves the whole town, an ancient neighbor rumored to have magical powers, and the disappearance of the Whites Only sign.  In this case the story is fictional, but the situation is an accurate reflection of the practices of the time and place.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers
An Anne Schwartz Book, 2001

Another fictional story is based on real events of the 1964 civil rights work in Mississippi. In this case the author's note precedes the narrative, setting the stage for  FREEDOM SUMMER, by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. The author experienced questions and confusions as a white child in the deep South when the Civil Rights Act was passed, planting the seed for this story.
It depicts a common situation: two young boys, one black and one white became friends, but no amount of denial erased the fact that changing the law could not change the attitudes of the adults. The boys might now have equal rights, but they would have to take a stand for equal treatment and equal respect. 
The illustrations are a remarkable blend of detail and blurred edges, pulling the reader into the situation to fill in the blanks and participate in the situations.

In each case the books, like the movie, have the capacity to transport readers back through time to situations that are otherwise inconceivable to today's youth. Whether non-fiction or historical fiction with author notes, they turn dry facts, names and dates into vibrant characters and events. They stir the soul, stimulate curiosity, and generate empathy. 

I hope you'll click on this link to another blog, I.N.K. (Interesting Non-fiction for Kids). This collaborative effort by non-fiction writers for kids is always worth reading, but this particular post calls attention to the diverse and valuable topics in the posts. Along the right margin you'll find active links to the many award-winning contributing-authors' websites. Do yourself a favor and explore even a few. Then subscribe to the blog. It's a great way to get to know some of the finest writers and titles you'll ever want to read or share with kids.