June's Book Club Selection

Greeting my NBHE Family,

Summer is almost here, but in Texas it feels like its here already!! I'm assuming that your family is like mine, and June is the month that you all embark on "chilling out" a bit from your typical homeshchooling routines. Your mind now shifts to planning family vacations, attending reunions graduations, and weddings. Whoo!

With that being the case we will only have 1 book selection for the months of June, July, and August. Each selection will be a book for the entire FAMILY to read together and then share your comments on the blog.

                                        And the JUNE selection is..................
                        Gifted Hands The Ben Carson Story by Ben Carson. 

This an inspiring story of how Ben Carson triumphs inspite of enormous obstacles to become one of the greatest pioneers in neurosurgery.

There is also a movie for this one (same title).


Happy Readings My Friends....

Let Go Outside

Happy May NBHE! This month we introduce three delightful picture books that are sure to be a hit at your house. These books are beautifully illustrated and feature important African Americans: Dr. George Washington Carver, Southern Chef Edna Lewis, and every "little brown baby with sparklin' eyes". (I couldn't resist.) I hope your family enjoys them as much as we have.

What's Special About Me, Mama?(2011)

Words by Kristina Evans

Pictures by Javaka Steptoe

Do you remember Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters or She Came Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl(Eloise Greenfield/John Steptoe)? Well, this is Mr. Steptoe's talented son. His collage/papercutting illustrations are amazing!

In the Garden with Dr. Carver(2010)

By Susan Grigsby

Pictures by Nicole Tadgell

Dr. Carver and his "movable school", a wagon filled with plants, tools, and seeds, arrive after church to teach the children of a small Alabama community the importance of renewing the soil and turning simple foods into usable products. This book is an inspiration for doing nature studies. You will want to pick up your color pencils and pads and head outside.

Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie: A Story about Edna Lewis(2009)

By Robbin Gourley

My first encounter with Edna Lewis was in our library's southern cooking section. In her book, The Taste of Country Cooking, I fell in love with her down home recipes and the history of her Freetown, Virginia. Her stories of home celebrate each season with the bounty of the simple harvest. Being a southern girl myself, I could share the memories of hog killing time and fresh berries for pies and cobblers. This book seeks to capture Edna Lewis, the girl. Do look up her cookbooks. They are great sources when studying the time of free black townships.

Happy Reading!