I read some more terrific books from
last year, and one more “snow” book from Emily Gravett.
Between The World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
Because I am one of those who thinks
herself white, that group Ta-Nehisi Coates calls the Dreamers, those who’ve supported
all their actions as following the “dream”, I am saddened that I have not done
enough. This letter to his son, to help him find a way to keep safe, tells of Coates’
own life of questioning. He writes, “I have spent much of my studies searching
for the right question by which I might fully understand the breach between the
world and me. I have not spent my time studying the problem of “race”--“race”
itself is just a restatement and retrenchment of the problem. “ He explains
that the plan, by those who believe they are white, is always to have some
groups “beneath”. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? To have power, one must be
on top. And to be on top is to be supported by many, many underneath. Those
words underlie other stories of Coates life’s journey of fear and the need to
understand and protect himself, and now, his son. He explains how much time is
robbed from parents as they advise their black boys and black girls that they
must “be twice as good” which is to say “accept half as much” When one’s child
leaves the house, having been told all the ways to “act”, and knowing that
often it doesn’t matter if she or he crosses the wrong path. There is goodness
in this telling, too, of those who hope and don’t stop hoping. Yet even in the
first pages, the name of Tamir Rice is mentioned, and now we know, here at the
beginning of 2016, the ending of that story, too. Others are told in the book,
the stories we, the Dreamers, so often protest, about the tragic deaths of
Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. And then we forget. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ letter is full of love from
a father to his son, and full of fear for him also. Everyone should read the story, and fill
themselves with questions.
Bear & Hare: Snow! - Emily Gravett
These two friends open the door and
“It’s snowing!” Hare loves snow, but bear isn’t so sure. Hare makes a perfect
snow angel, but bear sinks down. Hare makes a small snowball, but Bear makes a
huge one. Well, you see how this is going. But there is hope, and it comes at
the top of a hill. Finally, Bear learns that snow can be fun. For the littlest
ones, Emily Gravett uses her beautiful expressive illustrations to show the
feelings and the fun between Bear & Hare.