Today I am grateful I got the opportunity (and the energy again – can you see I’m not taking this for granted??) to go to the literacy center. I feel really delighted when I leave. It’s like this part of me that has been sleeping (for most of the past 9 years) wakes up and all these teaching skills and knowledge pour out of me so naturally.
Today I took this book that I found at a market recently.
It details the story of an ant who accidentally boards a bus and tours around Ghana.
As I reflected upon last week I was struck by something I learned from teaching in Los Angeles Unified – how important it is for kids to see people who look like them and have some of their experiences – in what they read. It really is so, so important.
So I brought this book and read it to a group of older girls (maybe 8-12 years old!). They were fascinated to hear city names that are familiar to them and we even laughed about the abundance of ants in Accra – really, there are so, so many. We looked at this simple map of Ghana and traced the places together.
They were delighted to see something they knew in print. I can’t wait to find more and share it with them.
Do you know of other books that take place in West Africa?
So this is probably not a good read for kids, but I’m reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi right now, and it is eye-opening to say the least. It’s all about the slave trade in the 18th century. I think you would really enjoy it.
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Thanks Christina! I hope to read it!!
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Hello –
My sister, Kelly (from Dixon) passed along your blog and asked if I knew of any other West African books.
I love this one:
“One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia”
I actually was going to ask for it for Christmas this year! I will pass along any others that come to mind.
Blessings to you and your family-
Michelle
P.S. I do the Dressember event each year to raise money for IJM, so will be praying for your ministry with the boys.
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