Celebrating Black History - Book-A-Day - Day 1

Each February we celebrate Black History Month and often try to incorporate stories of people past and present that have helped shape this rich history that is part of our own.  This year, I wanted to do more than simply recommend books.  I wanted to showcase books written by African American authors or that feature African American characters that could be incorporated into the learning experience throughout the year not just for one month.  I wanted to feature books that students could see themselves in and that feature contemporary African American characters and not just those famous African American icons we have come to know so well.   Each day, I will highlight a new title and share a suggestion for how it could be incorporated into the curriculum.  All of these titles would be wonderful choices to share during the month of February and beyond.  While I will only be shining the spotlight on 28 books, please know there are many more that could have been incorporated.  You can find all the titles that will be shared and more in our school library collection. 

Lottie Paris Lives Here by Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson is one of my favorite childrens' authors with books like The Sweet Smell of Roses and Lilly Brown's Paintings.  She is also a three time Coretta Scott King book award recipient.   My new favorite title written by her is Lottie Paris Lives Here.  With the spunk and sass of any young girl who is sure of herself, you can't help but adore Lottie. The only characters in this story are Lottie and her Papa Pete, with the real emphasis being on Lottie and the things she likes to do.  Lottie likes to play dress up, play at the park across the street from her house, and eat cookies instead of vegetables.  

Lottie may be one of my new favorite characters and definitely my new favorite girl character.  The story has a  rhythm to it that would make for a good read aloud.  One of my favorite lines from the story is next to the spread in which Lottie is decked out in her special hat complete with pearls, various kinds of flowers strewn atop along with a green frog.  "Do you like Lottie's hat?  Uh-huh, me too.  Lottie sure can wear a hat.  Not everyone can wear a hat like that."  Now that is the kind of book character I wish I could get to know in real life -- the kind who automatically makes your world more interesting just by knowing them. 

This story will be a fast favorite among many and even my two year old son now loves Lottie as he runs through the house singing "Lottie Paris....Lottie Paris....Lottie Paris!"  

This would be a wonderful book to use as part of an All About Me unit in which kids discuss where they live, what they like to do, etc.  Readers get to learn all these things about Lottie which could encourage students to share their own connections.  This book could also be used to help teach character traits in writing.  Angela Johnson does a nice job of giving the reader a strong description of Lottie without explicitly using adjectives to describe her.  Readers could practice inferring in order to create a character map.  I'd love to hear more creative ways you may decide to use Lottie Paris in your classroom or what your students think of her and if they love her as much as I do.