Understanding Differences Through Good Literature

    As responsible adults, we must teach children the importance of better understanding people despite differences. Using good literature is one of the ways we can help young people get the truth about various people and their culture. Muslim Girls Rise is just one of several books published in the last few years that can debunk negative stereotypes and ignorance. 

    Empower children with books! 😊

    www.avantgardebooks.net 
 

Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black by Dapo Adeola

    We've just added, Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black (2022) to our Story Time page! This beautiful picture book was written by award-winning, British-Nigeran illustrator and author, Dapo Adeola and illustrated by 18 dynamic, Black artists. Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black (2022) is a lyrical, inspirational exploration of growing up Black filled with empowering life lessons tailormade for young readers. 

    We encourage parents to read it aloud, but little ones who are around seven to nine years old should be able to handle it themselves. The lessons are simple, yet profound with age-appropriate explanations. The illustrations are stunning and add life to every page. You can also order a copy for your beloved child from our website. The links are below. Happy reading! 📚

Avant-garde Books Story Time (Anchor by Spotify): https://anchor.fm/avant-garde-books 

Website: www.avantgardebooks.net 

Representation Matters

 

While some people claim it's hard to get children to read, we've discovered a secret that we'd like to share with you: children will naturally become engaged with literature that reflects how they look, their culture, and values. This is why it's imperative that writers and publishers create books with diversity in mind. We are grateful for the progress we've seen in the last seven years and we look forward to seeing more books about a wide range of topics and genres that feature diverse (main) characters, especially of Black people, their families, and those in the African diaspora. If you are looking for those books, let the Avant-garde Books Team help you! 😊We're at the Mall West End every Wednesday through Saturday (1-7 p.m.). You can also order online at www.avantgardebooks.net.  📚

I Want A Nickname by Tradara Mclaurine and Illustrated by Gaspar Sabater

It's not Sha-Dee-Ah, Shaw-Day-Uh, or Sha-Dee-Uh...it's Shadaia!

Frustrated with everyone mispronouncing her name, Shadaia 

decides she needs a nickname. Maybe that will help everyone 

get it right. 

I Want a Nickname  by Tradara Mclaurine is a picture book about empowerment, self-esteem, and loving the meaning behind your name.

Pre-order today! https://www.amazon.com/I-Want-Nickname-Tradara-McLaurine/dp/1955767130/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AXV6VT0W6L9B&keywords=I+want+a+nickname&qid=1652895752&s=books&sprefix=i+want+a+nickname%2Cstripbooks%2C219&sr=1-1

 

Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom by Pamela Seda and Kyndall Brown

    Policies for urban schools are often created by people who have no experience (or very little) attending them or serving in them. “Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom” is a rare literary gem in which two African American professionals share their experiences as students, educators, and administrators in the world of math. 

    Every school should have copies of this wonderful book!

www.sedaeducationalconsulting.com

Creating the images and messages we want to see in books

 

    My daughter celebrated her 32nd birthday yesterday. I couldn't help remembering that when she was growing up, it was difficult to find books that predominantly featured Black characters. Today, due to technology, writers and publishers have more opportunities to create the messages and images they want to see. If you are an aspiring author, know that achieving your publishing dreams is easier than ever. 

    The Avant-garde Books Team has published more than 30 children's books including This Beautiful Hair of Mine, the one you see pictured here. If we can do it, you can too! While we can never have too many books that deal with self-love, respect and appreciation, think about producing a book relating to science, math, or an obscure topic. However, when it's connected to your passion, the research won't seem like work. Keep us posted on your writing progress! 😃

Website 

C. Chérie Hardy, CEO of Avant-garde Books, LLC

Literacy is the foundation for all learning!

When children have a strong foundation in literacy, they can learn and achieve more. It does not matter which profession they choose to work in later, they must know how to READ well. It is also imperative that they know how (and when) to implement good READING strategies, like re-reading and following context glues to help them understand complex literature. Teaching children learning techniques as simple as how to use affixes to determine meaning and/or how to effectively use an online dictionary to look up words are critical to their personal, social, and academic achievement. The Avant-garde Books Team is here to help you. Come see us at The Mall West End every Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Check out our website.