The diverse holiday readathon continues!! I’ve realized that The Caffeinated Book Reviewer‘s holiday readathon is wrapping up soon and there are still so many books I want to share, so I’m going to be putting together some bonus posts in the next few days – lucky you! 😉
ARGH!
You know what’s been driving me NUTS recently? Trying to find Kwanzaa books that actually sound, look and feel like they’ve been written for children who ALREADY CELEBRATE KWANZAA.
Take a look at the Christmas section at your local library and you know what you’ll find? Picture books that don’t just explain Christmas, but which tell stories set at Christmastime, stories with actual NARRATIVES. Characters have to find the perfect present for their parents, or worry about being in the school play, or go on a Christmas adventure through time. In other words, not every Christmas-themed book is designed to teach children the basic facts about Christmas.
But Kwanzaa?
There is always a need for picture books that introduce and explain a holiday, but there’s also a real need for picture books written expressly for children who already celebrate the holiday, and which allow children to see their culture represented and appreciated.
One of the few Kwanzaa books I could find that wasn’t primarily an illustrated introduction to the holiday and which offered a bit of a narrative was this little cutie – Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa. Li’l Rabbit is feeling blue because Granny Rabbit is sick and cannot celebrate the Kwanzaa feast of Karamu with Li’l Rabbit and his family. Li’l Rabbit decides to bring Granny Rabbit a special something to cheer her up, but he can’t seem to find just the right treat, no matter how hard he looks. Li’l Rabbit wonders if he’s just too small to help Granny Rabbit after all, but eventually learns that sometimes all you need is a little help from the people who love you.
As someone who doesn’t practice Kwanzaa I can’t attest to the accuracy of the holiday’s portrayal in Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, but as a librarian I can say how glad I was to find a cute little holiday story that doesn’t just hit readers over the head with FACTS.ABOUT.KWANZAA. Yes, there is information and explanation throughout Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, making the text accessible to children who are new to the holiday, but there’s also a narrative. This is a Kwanzaa story in which characters learn the true meaning of the holiday, as well as important lessons about themselves.
What we need, need, need are more diverse books that are actually written by and for the communities they represent. Picture books that let all children experience their holidays to their fullest, and make them feel like their cultural celebrations are just as valid and important as anyone else’s. Finding books like this shouldn’t have to be so dang hard, especially not for children.
Admittedly Kwanzaa is a predominantly American holiday, so it’s entirely possible that there are great Kwanzaa books that simply aren’t available here in Canada. If you know of any great Kwanzaa story books that contain a narrative (rather than being primarily informational), please send your recommendations my way!
Sharing is caring, so share that knowledge!
SUCH a good point! The importance of #ownvoices cannot be overstated, and even a kid can sense the difference between a story set during a holiday and one that explains a holiday. Yet another book gap. Thanks for sharing this one with #diversekidlit!