Great Quotes from Books! The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake

 ❤️“It takes a long time to accept yourself for who you are. To see the poetry in your walk…To look in the mirror and like what you see, even when it doesn’t look like anybody else’s idea of beauty.”—Miss Saunders from "The Skin I’m In" by Sharon G. Flake

Great Quotes from Books! "Changes for Addy: A Winter Story" by Connie Porter and Bradford Brown (Illustrator)

"Hope is a powerful thing, Addy. It's the greatest gift you can give to somebody, or yourself. It can see you through the worst times.”—Mr. Polk from “Changes for Addy: A Winter Story” by Connie Porter and Bradford Brown (Illustrator) 

 

Happy birthday to educator and poet, Nikki Giovanni (1943)

#NikkiGiovanni Avant-garde Books sends warm birthday wishes to poet and educator, Nikki Giovanni! Don’t live another day without reading her poetic masterpiece “Ego Tripping”!  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nikki-Giovanni

 

Remembering Award-winning Poet, Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 - 2000)

Avant-garde Books proudly remembers esteemed poet Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) who was born on this day in 1917. She was the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry, “Annie Allen”! Brooks became the Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and held that position until her death. #LiteracyMatters #GoodWritersMatter 📚 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gwendolyn-brooks

 

Book Review: Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan and Keturah A. Bobo (Illustrator)

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As the principal narrator of Story Time with Avant-garde Books, I have had the pleasure of reading tons of wonderful children’s books. Recently, to encourage participation in the upcoming Juneteenth celebrations, I read Alice Faye Duncan’s book, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth.

This book stands out for its apt use of figurative language. The author is a master storyteller who helps young children visualize both painful and beautiful events of the past in a way that leads them to appreciate the efforts, strength, and experiences of our ancestors. Also, children learn about the suffering of enslaved people without them depicted as mere victims of their unfortunate circumstances, but clearly captures with les mots justes their resilience and spiritual audaciousness as a people who learned to live and love despite the hatred and violence.

Duncan weaves together the story of Opal Lee in a way that makes you feel personally loved by the protagonist. In the back of the book, readers will find a “Juneteenth Timeline” as well as a short biography of the fearless, civil rights advocate.  

        The illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo, perfectly capture important moments in American history as well as specifically the life of the “grandmother of Juneteenth”.

        I strongly give this book five out of five stars because it not only offers a necessary history lesson about the origin of Juneteenth celebrations, but the book is filled with timeless wisdom about keeping hope, love, and faith as a triad for progress and strength among generations of descendants of African American slaves.

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

www.avantgardebooks.net