Culture in Picture Books
In this part two of my blog post for the week I will be talking about two very culturally authentic picture book that are counter narratives. These books are Fry Bread by Kevin Maillard and Can I touch your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship by Irene Latham and Charles Waters.
Vlog Response to Fry Bread:
Fry Bread is all about culture. This story seems to be a recipe for all the things that go into making fry bread but also things that are apart of a culture. For example this story says that fry bread is: art, history, time, etc. This is the type of story that needs to be shared with everyone to really get the story of indigenous people out there. Every student needs a book that is a mirror of themselves not only with things they like but who they are and what their culture is. Its even better that this book was written by an #ownvoice author as Kevin Maillard has family and ancestors apart of the Seminole tribe.
Vlog Response to Can I Touch your Hair:
These poems not only talk about race but they also talk about how it shaped the authors lives. Iren and Charles were not friends when they first met but thanks to a project in their class they begin to understand each other and not just base their impression off of what others say. Since these poems are written by Charles and Irene through their own perspectives about their own lives it makes them #ownvoice authors.
This poem is one of my favorites in the collection because of how powerful it is and how it truly challenges stereotypes. Too often we believe African Americans are these superior athletes and aren't great at school but that isn't the case its just a stereotype. This poem really refutes that stereotype with Charles talking about how he is picked first for basketball until he throws a shot that goes over the backboard, how his classmates groan when its his turn to read but once he shows how well he can read they all relax and smile.
Artistic Media:
The illustrations done in this book were done by two different people which is amazing because it allows each character to have their own unique personality come to life. Both illustrators pay extreme attention to detail from texture, colors and the scene around them which allows each poem to jump off the page. At the end of the book there is an authors note which not only gives a glimpse into the authors lives and even some fun facts about them. This note really helps to expand the readers knowledge of why the authors chose to write the book.
Awards for Fry Bread:
The Robert F. Sibert Medal
American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award
Awards for Can I touch your hair?
NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor Book
NCTE Notable Children's Book
ALA Notable Children's Book
Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book
State Awards List (DE, MI, PA, & UT)
Named one of 10 Books All Young Georgians Should Read
Nerdy Book Club Award Winner
Cybils Award Nominee
Meet the Authors:
Kevin Millard is a debut author and law professor at Syracuse university. He is originally from Oklahoma and is apart of the Seminole Nation.
Juana Martinez-Neal is the illustrator of Fry Bread. She is an author originally from Peru and wrote Alma and how she got her name. Juana now lives in Arizona with her family.
Charles Waters is a children's poet, actor and co-author of Can I touch your hair. He is also the author of dictionary for a better world. Charles has had a love for poetry since he was a little kid and even worked for Disney for a little while.
Irene is the co author of Can I touch your hair and a well renowned children's author. She has written novels, fiction and non fiction picture books and poetry picture books. She even contributed to dictionary for a better world written by her friend Charles.
Selina Alko is one of the illustrators of can I touch your hair. She is originally from Canada but now lives in the United States. She has had a love for art since she was a young girl.
Website: Unavailable
Sean Qualls is the other illustrator for Can I touch your hair. He is originally from New Jersey and had a passion for art growing up but couldn't always afford art supplies so he made due with what he could find. He moved to Brooklyn to attend art school at the Pratt Institute. He dropped out after a year and a half but continued to educate himself while working full time at the Brooklyn Museum.
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