Edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson
I heard about it from an email, so then I borrowed it from my library. I didn’t know how I’d respond to it so I left it in my pile until today. I sat outside and read each short piece; some poetry, some prose. I lifted my head in between some of the offerings by thirty authors and illustrators. Sometimes I quickly turned the page to read the next entry. All of them powerful. All of them love letters from a parent to their child or grandchild. All of them capturing stories of racism and self-identity. All them saying look for the wonder that abounds but know there is danger around the bend. All of them saying we can do this; we can be mindful and make this a just and fair world. All of them saying, you are beautiful, you are loved. Take some time to read these short works to yourself, to your children, grandchildren or students, probably fourth graders and above. I was especially moved by, “Ten,” by Tracey Baptist’s, illustrated by April Harrison and “Our Inheritance, “ by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. What resonated for you?