In February, a month often cloaked in the warmth of love, our Stories of Color selection delves into the many hues of this profound emotion through a tapestry of living books. Our chosen narratives celebrate love in its varied forms — from the steadfast devotion of family to the sweet stirrings of first love, not to mention love across cultures. Each story serves as a vibrant exploration of love’s enduring power to connect, heal, and transform, inviting young readers to embrace empathy and compassion. As we turn these pages, we hope to inspire a deeper understanding of love’s inclusive and unifying force, enriching the hearts and minds of our future generations.
P.S. In case you missed it, this month, we launched our shop with an incredible assortment of outstanding resources for homeschoolers and educators. Sneak a peek.
Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Remix
Written by Ibi Zoboi
Recommended by Amber O’Neal Johnston
Amber says, “This update of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a wild remix that I thoroughly enjoyed. It has the same complicated romance and familial relationships of the original, but the modernized plot sets the drama amid Zuri Benitez’s Afro-Latina family in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood. The book can definitely stand alone, but I think it will be best enjoyed by teens and adults who have read the original.”
How Do You Say I Love You?
Written by Hannah Eliot
Illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez
Recommended by Trisha Vuong
Trisha says, “This board book caught my attention with the adorable book cover, but I was even more delighted when I opened its pages. From China, to France, to Russia and Brazil, children will introduce how to say ‘I love you,’ in ten different languages! The illustrations are sweet and reinforce a parent’s love for their children. In the end, ‘I love you,’ sounds very different across countries, but evokes the same emotions and meaning worldwide.”
Look In My Mirror
Written by Javier Sánchez
Illustrated by Ewart Da-Souza
Recommended by Erika Alicea
Erika says, “One of the most loving books in our personal treasure trove, Look in My Mirror by Javier Sánchez is a book of affirmations from a father to his daughter. Written in a playful call and response format, every page starts off with: ‘Look in my mirror Daddy. What do you see?’ where the father shares a different compliment, always ending with: ‘I’m as happy as can be. I’m so glad God gave you to me.’ The sweet illustrations show the little girl growing up into a confident young woman within the reflections of the mirror she looks into with her daddy.”
“My husband would read this with our girl when she was little and it was just the cutest thing, as she read the question and he responded with the affirmation. So much love and cuteness, yet full of empowering messages that promote a healthy self-esteem in girls from a young age. It really is a gem every father should read with their little girls.”
Full, Full, Full of Love
Written by Trish Cooke
Illustrated by Paul Howard
Recommended by Brytni M. McNeil
Brytni says, “Here’s a book whose simplicity, gentleness, and warmth stirs within both a longing and appreciation for the simplest pleasures and practices of life: like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house. This book is especially loved in our home because regular family gatherings were a staple for both my and my husband’s up-bringings. Now, we have the joy of sharing in those sacred family traditions with our children…gifts and graces not to be taken for granted. You’ll leave this story inspired to gather those around you into your heart and home.”
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