Et cetera : Book Reviews: A Trio of Children's Books

         In a nod to Black History Month, I will be reviewing books that highlight the viewpoints of People of Color.  Since children are colorblind to skin tone, I'm starting the month with a trio of storybooks with beautiful pictures and simple messages for the youngest among us.  Come along and join me!
                                                              ~~~
                                                  Don't Touch My Hair!
                                                      By Sharee Miller

Children's Picture Book

Fiction  (or is it?)
Reviewed By Connie Bennett
         This story is short and sweet, much like the little girl in the book!  Aria loves her beautiful black hair, and the way it grows up and out, and bounces when she runs.  The trouble is, other people can't keep their hands off of Aria's hair!  There seems to be a disconnect between the way Aria feels about her hair (Content? Proud?) and the way that others see it!  This is a cute, yet serious look at the way we are sometimes inconsiderate of the feelings of children.  I learned a lesson about personal boundaries.
                                                                                                          Published 2018
Little, Brown, & Co.
New York     Boston
                                                                   ~~~
                                                          More Than Peach
                                                         By Bellen Woodard
                                                                                                          Children's Picture Book                                                                                    True Story
Reviewed By Connie Bennett
         Again, we have a thought-provoking book about the feelings of our youngest friends.  Bellen is a youngster of about seven or eight, who begins to have questions about the name "skin color" for the peach- colored  crayon.  Although her family's faces are various shades of brown, it is common practice for her classroom, school, and, it seems, society, to ask for the flesh-toned crayon when coloring skin.  Bellen decides to talk this over with her mother, then does something about it!  Follow her story as she initiates a new art brand and becomes the world's First Crayon Activist. 
                                                                                                            Published 2022
Scholastic, Inc.
New York
                                                              ~~~
                                                   The Power of Her Pen
                                                 By Lesa Cline-Ransome
                                                                                                           Children's Picture Book
Non-Fiction
Reviewed By
Connie Bennett
          A biography of a little-known journalist, Ethyl Payne, this book details the life and work of a woman considered to be "The First Lady of the Black Press".  Ms. Payne was truly a change-maker in American and World History.  Ethyl wanted to be a reporter from an early age and worked hard to attain that goal.  Born in 1911, she went from the field of journalism, covering stories that were largely ignored by the mainstream white press, to a White House Correspondent. She was the first female African American to be on a national television network. 
          As a member of the press corps, she often angered some people.  In fact, she annoyed President Eisenhower so much, he stopped calling on her for questions when he gave news conferences!  Ethyl served for nearly fifty years, covering news of interest to black communities, as well as covering stories in Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nigeria, and South Africa, among other places.  She was one of only four female journalists to be on a United States postage stamp.  Shortly before her death in 1991, she said, "I've had a box seat on history".  She wasn't wrong!
                                                                                                                Published 2020

Simon & Schuster
New York