“It Started Ten Years Ago”

By Deb Van Duinen

As we continue to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of The Big Read Lakeshore, we want to highlight some stories from the past couple of years from a few of the many people who helped form The Big Read into what it is today. Our first memories come from Professor Deborah Van Duinen, who began the program in Holland and nurtured it into what it is today. As we launch our newest books, she reflects on the journey of starting The Big Read in our community.

It started ten years ago with a conversation between friends.

During one of the fall months in 2013, I remember asking Joel Schoon-Tanis, a friend and local artist, about his latest art projects. In the following conversation, he told me about an upcoming project in Wisconsin. There, he would do another collaborative art project with high school students involved in a community-wide reading program. He had done this in previous years and absolutely loved creating art with students after reading a piece of literature. This year, the students he would be working with were reading Our Town by Thorton Wilder. 

“The community over there gets a grant called “The Big Read” from the National Endowment for the Arts.” I remember him telling me. “You should check it out. It’d be fun to do something like that here in Holland.”

Full disclosure: I had never written a grant proposal before and knew little about community-wide reading programs or the National Endowment for the Arts. However, I knew Joel well enough to know that if he thought something would be a good idea, it probably was. 

Full disclosure again: I was a new, pre-tenured faculty member at Hope College. I wanted to get tenure and promotion and knew that grants, publications, and service commitments were the currency to achieve this. 

Long story short, in January 2014, I applied for an NEA Big Read grant: my first NEA grant, my first grant.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I quickly learned that applying for a national grant is no small task. For one, many grant requirements need to be followed. These include everything from budget details and publicity materials to evaluation processes and confirmed community partnerships. 

For this particular grant, I learned that I needed to choose a book from a list of Big Read selected titles. Not knowing what kinds of books work best for a community-wide reading program, I went with a book that I loved, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. As a former high school English teacher, this was one of my favorite books to teach, and it was (and continues to be) one of my all-time favorite books to read. This was the easy part. The rest of it? Not so much.

While submitting the grant in 2014, I also learned that most grant writers aren’t successful the first time around. In fact, many grant writers use a failed first attempt to learn what to do better the next time. This makes it all the more difficult to establish community partnerships and support. With no promise of an actual program or effective results, I remain so grateful for the librarians at Herrick District Library, the local English teachers, and the directors of nonprofit organizations like the Holland Museum who were willing to partner with me from the beginning.

Deb Van Duinen (right) with Carla Kaminski (Van Wylen Library) and Wayne Flynt.

In April 2014, I received an email from the NEA informing me that my grant proposal had been accepted. 

And the rest, as we say it, is history.

The first year of programming was magical. We hosted seven events and 16 book discussions. Over 300 people participated in our program. Our main speakers included Mary Marshall Tucker, a neighbor of Harper Lee, and Dr. Wayne Flynt, an Alabamian historian, and friend of Harper Lee. Dr. Fred Johnson delivered our kickoff address, and we screened a documentary, Our Mockingbird, followed by a Skype talk with the director, Sandra Jaffee. Joel Schoon Tanis collaborated with students in five schools to create beautiful pieces of art and also designed a community art piece made up of hundreds of mockingbirds that answered the question: “Who are our mockingbirds?”

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Conversations about the book and its topics and themes were rich and meaningful. Community members of all ages listened to and learned from each other. We made new connections with each other. We discovered new insights together.

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Joel Schoon-Tanis and Beth Mawdsley Sherwood, a teacher at Holland High School.

The overwhelming success of this first year propelled us to apply for another grant in 2015 and then again in 2016 and 2017 and so on. And now, here we are in 2023 embarking on our 10th programming year.

Stay tuned for future blog posts that highlight memories from each of our previous years but for now, here’s to another year of showcasing a diverse range of themes, voices, and perspectives. Here’s to another year of coming together, as a community, around the shared activity of reading and discussing the same book. Here’s to inspiring meaningful conversations, artistic responses and new discoveries and connections along the Lakeshore.

Why You Should Participate in the Big Read

Whether you are new to the Big Read Lakeshore program or need more reasons to help convince a friend to check us out, we invite you to consider some good reasons to join us this year!

So, what is the Big Read, and why should you get involved?

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Arts Midwest created the Big Read program in 2006. Their focus was on shared reading experiences that would lead to discussions, connections, and responses in every community they touch. While NEA’s Big Read exists nationally, our section, “Lakeshore” started in 2014 and is currently in its 10th year of programming. Each year we apply for a grant, and NEA gives us the support that allows us to distribute books, put on events, and find creative ways to get our communities involved in reading these great books. 

That is where you, the community, come in. You are the center of all we do here at the Big Read. We are constantly thinking of new ways we can help you get more involved and get the most out of the program. From the books we choose to the interactive programs happening all around the community, we are focused on you.

If you are still looking for reasons to get involved in the Big Read, here are a couple to consider:

  1. To be introduced to a fantastic new book:

At the very least, our program this year might introduce you to a great new book. It could be one you’ve never heard of before or one that you have been eyeing for a while but haven’t had the opportunity to read yet. I am always looking for a great new book to read, but don’t always know where to look. If we are dedicating a whole month to talking about this book, you can bet it will be pretty good.

  1. If you have always wanted to dive deeper into books but didn’t know where to start:

I wish there were whole college courses on the books I chose to read. Sometimes I will finish a book and know there is so much there but don’t know how to figure out what it is on my own. Groups like Big Read can come in handy for that. Throughout November, we will have events that help us understand the background of this book better, as well as things like guests on our podcast and our blog giving out additional tools as you read. 

  1. To have deep conversations with others in our community about themes and issues brought up by these books:

Finding other readers to talk about the book you are reading can be challenging. Since everyone in the Big Read will be reading the same book, there will be many opportunities to talk to others about what you see. One of my favorite aspects of having a community-based program is the discussions that get started because of these books. We chose these books knowing that these topics are some that we should be addressing in our community. We love to hear your thoughts on these books and issues as you begin to read them! 

  1. To gain a new perspective:

 One of my favorite aspects of reading is the growth my mind goes through with each new perspective I can take on for a while. To quote from our very first Big Read book, To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” If you want to grow, there are few ways that are better than reading a good book and having healthy conversations with others.

  1. If you are looking for a program that is flexible for you:

One of the best parts about Big Read is that you can commit as much or as little time and energy to this program as you would like. If just reading the book we chose is your style, go for it! To get the most out of the program, we encourage you to get involved in at least one other way. Our blog will release material all summer to help you in your reading and could be a great addition to your personal journey or subject material for a book club. Social media is another great way to stay involved in what is going on, and if you still need to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, check us out! We will also have in-person events throughout the fall program, and we would love to have you stop by for those as well!

We love hearing from the community, so if you have any more questions about the Big Read or how you can get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Remembering: The Last Four Years

As we get closer to the announcement for our 10th-anniversary book, we want to finish looking back at the books that we have read together as a community over the last couple of years.

In 2019, our 6th year of Big Read Lakeshore, we visited the Mirabal sisters during the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a historical fiction novel that shifts in time from the 1940s, 1960s, and 1990s. During this program, we were able to hear from the author Julia Alvarez on a virtual visit, where she gave us a new perspective and lens through which to view the world around us. We were challenged to be butterflies representing courage, goodness, and standing up for the vulnerable, and we also were told to try to find the silent butterflies that might exist around us.

In 2020 we faced a unique challenge. When initially choosing In the Heart of the Sea for the 2020 Big Read book, no one knew how much the program would have to change and adapt to regulation and Zoom calls due to Covid-19, but we were still able to have a great year of discussion. In the Heart of the Sea tells the story of an 1820 sinking of an American whaling ship called the Essex and how the crew fought to survive in the aftermath. This story was familiar to some as it is also the basis for Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick. Nataniel Philbrick’s novel, published in 2000, uses accounts from Thomas Nickerson, a teenage cabin boy aboard the ship. A focus on this book brought about conversations on whose side of history gets told and whose side of the story is never seen.

An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo was the focus of the 2021 Big Read. This was our first Big Read book that was poetry, not prose, and this led to many exciting opportunities to talk about storytelling through poetry. The collection focuses on Harjo’s reconnection with her Native American roots and ancestors in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. This book also allowed discussion of American history through events like the Indian Removal Act, reservations, boarding schools, and much more. Through themes of struggle and perseverance, we could reflect on the ideas of hope and rebirth. The Big Read also partnered with the Kruizenga Art Museum at Hope College to put on an exhibit on Native American Art to bring another art form to life in our community.

Last year, 2022, we traveled far back to the Greek Heroic Age with the book Circe by Madeline Miller. Circe is an adaptation of some famous classic Greek myths like the Odyssey. This adaptation shows a unique look into the role of women in ancient times with a reassessment of the stories of famous male heroes like Hermes, Jason, and Odysseus. Along the way, we questioned what defines a hero and saw the importance of perspective. Through the original songs of Joe Goodkin in a folk opera performance, we were also able to hear the story of the Odyssey from a different perspective.

Now approaching our 2023 Big Read program and our 10th year of traveling through these stories, we are grateful that our readers have been open to new experiences and willing to hear the stories that are not always told. Before we tell you our plan for this year’s book, we encourage you to check out these past stories. Whether it is a first read or your copy is covered in pen marks, there is always something new to be found in the different perspectives of an old story.

Remembering: The First Five Years

Here at the Big Read, we are excited to be getting closer to announcing our book for the 2023 program. As we approach the tenth anniversary of the Big Read Lakeshore program, we want to take the time to look back at where we started with the first five books. The Big Read started in 2014 and has transported our community to places and times very different from our experiences here in West Michigan.

In our first year of The Big Read, we visited Scout and Atticus Finch in 1930s Alabama and sat through Tom Robinson’s court case. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was our kickoff book, and it was unclear how the community would respond or engage with the program. Slowly schools, libraries, and other local organizations began to come on board and we were able to continue to grow those connections since then.
Throughout the month, we talked about themes of race and equality and had some great events, like talking to a childhood friend of Lee.

In our second year, we traveled to the Vietnam War through The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. These short stories talked about the physical, emotional, and mental burdens these soldiers took up. Amidst conversations about these burdens, many local schools got involved and found ways to interact with these stories by creating various art pieces to inspire the community.

In our third year, we joined Edwidge Danticat in her journeys in Haiti and the United States starting in 1969. Brother, I’m Dying was the first autobiography we read for the Big Read, and it approached hard topics like immigration and the American dream. Art was used once again, but this time involving as much as the community as we could with an installation art piece made up of hundreds of individual reflections on the stories shared and fingerprints representing the many identities that make up the Holland area.

The fourth year of Big Read brought us the story of a nameless family in a Japanese internment camp through the story of When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka. Based on real family experiences, the novel spends time on the differing perspectives of four family members and their eviction from California to a Japanese internment camp in Utah during World War II. One memorable event from that year was getting to see Raion Taiko Drumming and learn some Japanese words along the way.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel kept us in the Great Lakes region and instead took us on a journey to a dystopian future society. A swine flu pandemic taking out a large part of the world population most likely seemed more dystopian in 2018, but rereading it in 2023 could give us a different perspective after our experiences with COVID. Some discussion brought up during the program were questions about art and what legacy we pass on to children. We traveled a lot in this book, from person to person and back to the past many times.

This community has blessed us with a space to share these stories, and we are thankful for your support and engagement with our program. Some of you have been with us from the very beginning, and we are extremely grateful for you. For those who are just beginning their journey with us, welcome! We cannot wait to share where you get to travel with us this year!

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” ~Dr. Seuss: Films for Women’s History Month

By Teisha Struik-Kothe 

As a celebration of Women’s History Month, each week a Hope College professor or student will recommend their favorite books or films dealing with issues facing women today and throughout history. This week is dedicated to movies and films and is written by Dr. Teisha Struik-Kothe, an Assistant Professor of Instruction. As a former teacher and administrator, Dr. Struik-Kothe understands the difference equal representation makes for women in our world today.

As a former K-12 English language arts teacher and administrator, in honor of National Reading Month every March, I planned creative themes, books, speakers, and activities to engage students in literacy and spark a lifelong love of books. It was the annual March-Mission. Throughout the first official month of spring, in a nod to Dr. Seuss, I was busy enticing children to read upside down or read in bed with a flashlight or read to a dog!

This spring, I greatly enjoyed a twisting deep dive into movies list-worthy of Women’s History Month, which is officially celebrated on March 8. Why not spend the month of March (and beyond) engaged in reading and in viewing movies?

Countless films lift up and celebrate women’s brilliance and beauty. Friends, family, and my book club all had favorite nominations. (My significant other felt strongly that The Iron Lady (2011), a biographical film on the life of Margaret Thatcher, should make the list. He was disappointed it did not make the final five!) After considering everyone’s recommendations, and spending several nights with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn, below are the movies that made my Official-Unofficial Women’s History Month Movie List. They comprise an eclectic variety of movies featuring women who are brave, bold, bright, and beyond inspiring. Oh, the places you will go with these films!

Hidden Figures (2016)-The intelligence and determination of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, three black women who were employed by NASA in Langley, Virginia in the 60’s, transcended the prejudice of their colleagues. They made significant contributions to the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and they made significant contributions to the fields of math, science, and engineering.

Based on the book by Margot Lee Shutterly, the performances of Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae are remarkable. Their visual storytelling is outstanding as an ensemble, and the history (or herstory) lesson is inspiring. Available on Disney Plus, Prime Video, Apple TV, and other sources. Rated PG.

Homecoming (2019)-Beyonce’s documentary and its overarching theme is one of education and hard work. In 2018, she was the first black woman to headline the Coachella music festival, which debuted in 1999. The documentary captures both weekend performances. Montages spliced into the concert highlight the mega-star’s year-long preparation for the show after she gave birth to her twins. Fans are given an intimate look into the intense rehearsals in which Beyonce carefully plans every detail of the concert, balances family time with her husband and three children, and fervently pushes her own work ethic beyond its limits. She is the one and only Beyonce, and she is both the creator and performer of Homecoming. 

During the documentary, the audience is educated in black culture and in the importance of preserving and encouraging a legacy of historically black colleges and universities. (Beyonce’s father attended Fisk University.) Words of Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, W.E.B. DuBois, and Toni Morrison dot “Homecoming” with inspiration. 

Homecoming morphs from “concept to cultural movement” and is best represented by Beyonce’s description: “It’s hard to believe that after all these years I was the first African-American woman to headline Coachella,” she said. “It was important to me that everyone that felt they had never seen themselves represented felt like they were on that stage with us.” It is 140 minutes of proof that Beyonce is the hardest-working person in show business, and is a creative, talented, God-loving genius. Available on Netflix and Prime Video. Rated PG-13.

Joy Luck Club (1993)-Based on the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, this movie shares the story of four women who were born in China and immigrated to America. Their daughter’s stories are also central to the piece. The “Joy Luck Club” is made up of the four older Chinese women who meet once a week to play mah jong, and while they play, they compare stories of their families. All of the women have lived to see loss, heartache, and indescribable grief. Their secrets and stories play out in the film, one that moves effortlessly between past and present.

The delicate intricacies between mother-daughter relationships and interracial marriages are intimately examined, and every viewer with a family can relate to the hopes and prayers one generation will have for the next. This story illustrates compassion, empathy, and unconditional love, uniting threads of all cultures. Available on Prime Video, Apple TV, Redbox, and other sources. Rated R.

On the Basis of Sex (2018)-Long live RBG! Felicity Jones delivered an incredible performance as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this film. The well-crafted biography covers her life from schoolgirl to the Supreme Court. Did you know Ruth attended all of her law school classes and her husband’s classes when he fell ill with cancer? Did you know that no law firm would hire her despite Harvard Law and Columbia Law (first in her class) on her resume?

If you are in need of motivation and inspiration, watch this movie. Ruth and her husband fought one case together—a tax case that could be argued on the basis of sex—and that case changed everything. If there is “must see tv,” then this is a “must see movie.” Available on Prime, Apple TV, Redbox, and other sources. Rated PG-13.

Venus and Serena (2013)-Seeing footage from when these phenomenal female athletes were only ten years old gave me a whole new appreciation for the struggles Venus and Serena faced during their tennis careers. The girls grew up playing in Compton, California on broken courts. Their father-coach pleaded with country clubs to donate throw-away tennis balls so his girls could practice. At times, the young athletes were taunted with racist catcalls from the stands and unfairly criticized by opponents for every look, comment, or outfit. The documentary shows every obstacle they overcame.

The determination and resiliency of Venus and Serena in the face of criticism, injuries, illnesses, family challenges, and other obstacles will leave viewers in awe. This documentary provides a private view into the world of the Olympic stars’ lives. Players, tennis fans, and those with very little hand-eye coordination will enjoy this movie. (I’m among the latter and I loved it.) Available on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other sources. Rated PG-13.

Women Talking (2022)-While all five of the films above are incredible in their own way, in the end, one movie really stuck with me. If you only have time to watch one film this spring, I recommend Women Talking (2022), directed by Sarah Polley. It is based on the novel Women Talking (2018) by Miriam Toews, which is loosely based on a real story, one that is horrifying. 

Between 2005-2009, 150 women and young girls were drugged and then raped by men in their secluded Mennonite community. The movie captures the women’s response while they meet in a barn to discuss their options: 1) Do nothing. 2) Stay and fight. 3) Leave the community.

None of the women can read or write, so the ballot they use to vote is drawn in pictures. Each woman makes a single mark to signify her vote. The debate to break a tie after the votes are tallied is raw, layered, nuanced, and ultimately gut-wrenching. The talented actresses drive the storyline and convey the heavy emotions as “women talking.” Oh, the places you will go during this film. What do they decide and why? Watch. It is a movie I cannot stop thinking about. If I had an Oscar to give, Women Talking would win. Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and other sources. Rated PG-13.

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Children’s Literature

By Alyssa Whitford 

As a celebration of Women’s History Month, each week a Hope College professor or student will recommend their favorite books or films dealing with issues facing women today and throughout history. This week is dedicated to children’s literature and is written by Dr. Alyssa Whitford, an associate professor of Education. As a former elementary school teacher, Dr. Whitford understands the importance of literacy, and promotes reading diverse literature.

“I didn’t know before [reading books about women’s history] that girls can have such great ideas, and can stand up for themselves, and can do pretty much anything that they set their mind to, and that girls can change the way that people see.” 

– Elli, Third Grade

Unfortunately, the misconception that women have failed to contribute to history isn’t uncommon. In fact, it’s one that is supported by many schools’ curriculum materials, which feature large images of (typically white, wealthy) men inventing, fighting, and leading. Yet women created many important inventions such as windshield wipers (Mary Anderson), home security systems (Marie Van Brittan Brown), fire escapes (Anna Connelly), and even the first Monopoly game (Elizabeth Magie). Ida B. Wells fought for voting rights and against racial violence, while a teenaged Clara Lemlich led one of the largest factory walkouts in the nation’s history. Don’t recognize those names? You aren’t alone. Women have been boundary-breakers, trail-blazers, and world-changers, but their history is often silenced. Using childrens’ literature, however, can provide both a stage and a microphone for women’s voices. I’m honored by the opportunity to highlight children’s books that feature incredible historical women. These women have influenced sports, arts, politics, civil rights, music, and science, and we still feel their impact today.  Below, I’ve listed just a few of my favorites.

Mamie on the Mound: A Women in Baseball’s Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson

Mamie Johnson was only 5’3 when she went face-to-face with some of the biggest hitters in baseball history. In fact, she was so small she earned the nickname “Peanut.” But her size didn’t stop her from making a big impact. Despite facing systems of sexism and racism throughout her career, Johnson was the first woman to pitch on a Major League baseball team. She held a winning record and became known as an inspiration to women athletes. 

Mamie on the Mound tells the story of Johnson’s life from her childhood through her post-baseball career as a nurse. The illustrations are supported by real pictures and quotes from and about Johnson. It’s sure to be a “hit” with sports enthusiasts of any age! 

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz (English, Multilingual and Spanish Edition) by Monica Brown 

Known as the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz is credited with popularizing salsa music in the United States through her beautiful, soulful voice and enchanting songs. Over a lifetime of music, Cruz created more than 70 albums and entertained millions of devoted fans. She would often use her trademark cry of “¡Azúcar!” during performances to honor the enslaved people who worked on sugar plantations in Cruz’s birth country of Cuba. This year Cruz will become the first Afro-Latina to appear on U.S. currency. 

This bilingual book uses whimsical color and musical lyrics to tell the story of Celia Cruz’s life and her impact on music. Its rhythmic cadence makes it a joy to read! 

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans With Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel.

Jennifer Keelan has been an activist since she was only six years old. Keelan was born with cerebral palsy and has spent her life advocating for equal rights and access—in fact, when she was only eight years old she left her wheelchair to crawl to the top of the US Capitol Building steps in order to show her support for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since, she has been known as an influential part of the disability rights movement and an inspiration to many. 

Along with engaging illustrations and storytelling, this book uses the word “STOP” to show the barriers Keelan faced and how she continues to push through each challenge. This book also begins with a letter from Keelan herself reminding us all that there is still important work to be done in gaining equal rights. 

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell 

Mary Golda Ross was the first known Indigenous engineer whose work on fighter planes and aerodynamic forces is still considered revolutionary. A Cherokee woman, Ross was a strong advocate for women and Native peoples in STEM, especially in engineering. She has broken boundaries and created a lasting legacy, which can still be seen in her contributions to engineering and to causes she supported such as the creation of the Smithsonean’s National Museum of the American Indian. 

Classified is a bit longer and more detailed than several of the books on this list, making it ideal for upper elementary grades. Using realistic images and graphics that clarify the story and Ross’s scientific work, the book will delight science-lovers and shine a light on Ross’s incredible historical impact. 

Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring by Nancy Churnin

Laura Wheeler Waring is an artist best known for her lovely, detailed landscapes and stunning portraits of prominent African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. Fascinated with art and color at a young age, Wheeler Waring took an early interest in painting. Wheeler Waring was passionate about uplifting and amplifying the amazing work of Black singers, activists, scholars, and otherwise notable persons and today her work can now be seen in galleries all over the world. 

Told in a lyrical and descriptive way, Beautiful Shades of Brown tells of Wheeler Warings life as an artist. The text will make readers think about the beauty in the world around them while they also learn about a talented artist and her achievements. 

My Name is Not Isabella AND Isabella, Girl In Charge by Jennifer Fosberry 

Most of my recommendations are focused on one historical woman, but if you are looking for a fun way to learn about many women in history (My Name is Not Isabella) or politics (Isabella, Girl in Charge), the Isabella series is a great start. In each book, a little girl daydreams about being different notable women. The engaging repetition, creative illustrations, and charming main character make this an ideal book to read with early elementary grades. The books also feature backmatter with photos and brief biographies of all of the historical women featured in the story. 

Wonder While You Wander: Black Children in the Outdoors

By Jesus Montaño 

As a celebration of Black History Month, each week a Hope College professor or student will recommend their favorite books or films dealing with issues facing Black Americans today and throughout history. This week is dedicated to children’s literature and is written by Dr. Jesus Montaño, an associate professor of English. As a teacher/scholar of Latinx literatures and cultures, with special interest in children’s and young adult literary and cultural production, Dr. Montaño’s teaching and research examines the transformative and reparative power of writing and reading on young minds and spirits.

One can justly assume that this blog post took a wrong turn, got lost, then found itself in the woods. To be fair, it is easy to presume that a blog post on African American children’s picture books would not be concerned with Black children wondering as they wander in the outdoors. I would like to take this time and opportunity afforded to me by the Big Read Lakeshore to map what such a journey, via picture books, can offer us, that is, what can we gain from treading along these wild wonderscapes. 

We know that play is an important part of childhood, beneficial to learning and wellbeing so much that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children lists it as one of its international rights and that playing outdoors in particular helps children to learn science, practice social and emotional skills, and develop the lifelong habit of being active. Wondering and wandering in the great outdoors, we might say, is an important part of childhood, and of being human. 

Yet, as children’s literature scholar Dr. Michelle Martin at the University of Washington Information School notes, Black kids are rarely featured playing in nature. This lack of representation can be a detriment to Black children who do not often see themselves represented in picture books, much less in picture books in nature. For Professor Martin, this is important right now not only because of health issues, such as obesity, that disproportionately impact kids of color, but also because this lack of representation can communicate ideas about to whom nature belongs. Given the state of our environment, it is essential to consider issues of equity in terms of access to natural spaces and the role of Black and Brown people in environmental conservation efforts. 

By diversifying our bookshelves to include picture books with Black kids exploring nature, we can help kids find themselves in literature and in the great outdoors. During this Black History Month, take a moment to check out some picture books that show Black kids leading us as they wander and wonder in nature. Here are a few favorites to get you started:

Where’s Rodney? by Carmen Bogan is a story of a young Black student who can’t keep still. When Rodney visits a national park for the first time, he finds that the outdoors can be a majestic and peaceful place. 

The Hike by Alison Farell features a multi-racial group of three young female explorers as they wonder and wander in their local forest park. Each girl engages with the woods in a unique way, teaching us the value of observing, appreciating, and learning in the natural world. 

The Thing about Bees by Shabazz Larkin is a love poem to the author’s two sons that helps kids understand the role of these some-times scary pollinators. Perfect for a read-aloud, this book helps kids understand the importance of bees and the natural environment. 

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann is a picture book/graphic novel hybrid about Ernestine, a city kid, and her first adventure camping in the Pacific Northwest. This book shares the frustrations and delights of camping and how time in nature can transform our way of seeing the world. 

Buzzing with Question by Janice Harrington tracks what is possible when Black youth place their love of nature at the service of answering the world’s “buggy” questions, such as how ants find their way home or can bugs see color. About Charles Henry Turner, the first Black entomologist, this picture book provides a look at the obstacles as well as the promise of encouraging Black youth into the sciences. 

What would our world look like if we encouraged all kids to wander and wonder in the outdoors? Specifically to this blog entry, what would our world gain if we envisioned Black youths treading into wild wonderscapes? This is to say that changing the world begins in such imaginative ways. I highly encourage you to read these books, to yourself and to those you love. 

Celebrating Black History Month: Young Adult Literature

As a celebration of Black History Month, each week a Hope College professor or student will recommend their favorite books or films dealing with issues facing Black Americans today and throughout history. This first week is dedicated to Young Adult literature.


Book: Gifted Hands by Ben Carson (1990)

Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade

Gifted Hands is an inspiring autobiography about the neurosurgeon and politician Ben Carson. In this touching story of his journey to becoming a successful neurosurgeon, he describes growing up with a single mother who suffered from depression in inner-city Detroit. Though the odds were against him, Ben Carson graduated from Yale University and went on to University of Michigan Medical School. At the young age of thirty-three, Dr. Carson became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and has performed many life-saving surgeries on children, as described in his book.

Faith is an important aspect of Dr. Carson’s life, and therefore his story. Throughout the book, Dr. Carson mentions the hands of God directing him in miraculous ways, from his childhood to life as a successful surgeon.

Gifted Hands is a great book for anyone looking for an inspirational story focusing on one perspective of the Black experience in America.


Book: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (1976)

Reading Level: 4th-6th grade

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is about a Black family of sharecroppers living in rural Mississippi during the early 1930s. Although set at the height of the Great Depression, the story mostly focuses on the economic disadvantages caused by racial disparities in the South during the Jim Crow era. Throughout the novel, multiple characters encounter racial discrimination and hate crimes like lynching at the hands of white southerners. This book explores the importance of family, racial equality, and faith during hard times. 



Book: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (2018)

Reading Level: 6th-8th grade

The Poet X  is about a fifteen-year-old Afro-Latina girl living in Harlem, born into a religious family. Through writing her own slam poetry, Xiomara reflects on the religion she was born into and the way her race and gender have impacted her life. This coming-of-age story is about making sense of personal identity at a time when racial tensions are high, and is essential for a society that still represents many minority groups as stereotypes. Therefore, this novel is a breath of fresh air in that it is a more realistic depiction of a young girl wrestling with her identity as an Afro-Latina woman.


Book: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (2014)

Reading Level: 6th-8th grade

Written in verse, this novel is about the author, Jacquline Woodson’s childhood growing up near the end of the Civil Rights Movement. While born in Ohio, Woodson ends up moving to South Carolina at a time racism and discrimination are rampant in the South. Eventually, Woodson moves to New York, and she grows to love it. Throughout the novel, Woodson learns more about the Civil Rights Movement, Black Panthers, and feminism, and by the end, considers herself to be an activist and writer. Overall, this novel describes the experiences of one Black writer and activist and her journey to self-discovery amidst the tensions of race in America since the Civil Rights Movement.


Book: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (2015)

Reading Level: 9th-12th grade

All American Boys is a co-written novel that deals with the racism Blacks still deal with today, focusing primarily on law enforcement. This book has two main characters, Rashad, an innocent Black teenager who gets beaten by a police officer, and Quinn, a white teenager who slowly comes to realize the unfair treatment Blacks in America still receive today. It would have been easy for this novel to paint the racial disparities depicted as good versus evil, but instead it shows the humanity of every character, no matter what choices they make, good or bad. This novel is a great way to look at issues that face Black Americans today such as police brutality and unfair representation in media.

Behind the Scenes Spotlight: Brooke Carbaugh

I am a senior English Secondary Education major at Hope College with a minor in history secondary education. I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and other than the Big Read I am involved with Residential Life and the Education Technology Team on campus.

What’s your role on the Big Read team?

 My role on the Big Read Lakeshore team is communicating with the teachers that work with our program. I help send out information about teacher meetings, resources, and how many books each teacher would like for their classrooms. Additionally, I manage the blog by writing posts or setting up a schedule of what will be posted and when.

What did you learn from the program?

Through my role, I have fostered my love of reading and seen how much literature matters. I get to work with the teachers and hear about the impact that simply getting a book can have on a student. I have enjoyed learning from our authors and reading alongside the community. Also, I learned the value of working with people that you admire.

What’s your favorite book (and why)?

At the moment, my favorite book is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I love that the book is both a murder mystery and about the human connection with nature. My favorite book before that was Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan because I love a good memoir, especially one with some twists and turns.

Behind the Scenes Spotlight: Shelly Arnold

Shelly has been with Hope College since 2003. Her main role is the office manager for the Center for Ministry Studies. She earned a second post-secondary degree in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree from Hope majoring in history with an art history minor. 

What’s your role on the Big Read team?

Shelly began working part-time with Big Read Lakeshore in 2017 providing administrative support and now works primarily with budgetary details.

What did you learn from the program?

Even though the basics of carrying out the program is the same, each year is very different from the previous. All the hard work is worth it in the end when you learn so much more beyond the pages of each book through speakers’ stories and artistic interpretations. The written word comes alive, reaching out in ways you wouldn’t have imagined.

What’s your favorite book (and why)?

She has many favorite books, but most recently it was a Big Read selection, Station Eleven, read prior to the COVID pandemic.