Sandy Esprit

Hi there. First off, I want to say thank you so much for checking out my blog. It means a lot to me that you would be on my page and let alone take the time to actually read this post.

Today is the first day of November and in the blogging community it is known as NaBloPoMo which stands for National Blog Posting Month and it comes with a challenge. The challenge is to write a blog post every day for a whole month. I have participated in the past but have yet to actually complete the whole month, so I’m hoping that third time’s a charm.

And what better way to start this year’s challenge than to introduce books that I believe every single Black girl (and child at heart) should own. Not only are these books super fun to read and make for a great bedtime treat, they are also great for boosting your little one’s confidence and affirming their beauty.

Representation matters. Not just in the movies but in the books as well. Growing up every character I saw in a book had nothing in common with me physically aside from our personalities and character traits. Aside from that they looked my Caucasian classmate. Which is why I’m so excited to bring to your attention to these books; though the age range are mostly for toddlers I believe all age groups can get something out of them.

As a mother to young girls, I know that it is my duty to make sure that my girls know that they are beautiful. This world can be really cruel and we have the effects of racism and systemic racism. I know that from my personal, I grew up always knowing that I was different and that because of the way I looked I never could quite fit in. Looking at the television and seeing the ladies in the magazine I often felt self-conscious. I knew I didn’t want that for my girls. I want them to understand that they do matter and that they are not weird because of the way their curls will naturally defy or because their skin has a darker complexion than their friends. They are beautiful they way they are and these books help me send that message across.

My Hair by Danielle Murrell-Cox

This book has a become not just a regular bedtime story book but a hair style book. My three year old fell in love with this book the moment we cracked it open. What Danielle does so beautifully is she displays and highlights the different hairstyles that we wear regularly. The illustration is so cute and fun that it sparks my toddler’s desire in her very own hair journey. She uses this book as a reference every single wash day. And now she wants Bantu Knots. And she’s Canadian!

My Hair is Beautiful by Shauntay Grant

I was influenced to buy this book by none other but the wonderful Sasha Exeter. If you’re not following this amazing Black Canadian Queen on Instagram then you are seriously missing out. I fell in love with the way that Shauntay uses these beautiful Black babies to show the different hairstyles. It’s such a heartwarming sight to see these princesses be the star of their own hair journey. It has a beautiful message that I wish I received when I was younger.

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

I remember seeing this book everywhere when my eldest was about a year old and thinking to myself that I wanted to purchase this book. Fast forward to Christmastime and our family members actually gave us this book for our girl. We love this book. The illustrations are eye catching which my daughter loved and the words are like lyrics which made it really easy for her to remember. The positivity exudes from each page and I love that there is an unstated message that tells its reader to unapologetically and unashamedly be themselves.

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner

If I could put into words how I felt the moment was born, it would be the way that Matthew states it in his book. This faith based book details with complete accuracy the way we as parents view our children. We see them for who they are and for who they could be. We love their essence and we know that they are made to be more than just what this society tells them they are. The first time I read this book to my girl I almost cried. It beautifully empowers to be themselves in a world that will need them to be themselves.

Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison

I am a huge fan of Vashti’s illustration and so is everybody. She has a way of drawing you in and she captures the grace and elegance of #blackgirlmagic. She does it just the same with this book. She has no issues displaying a pattern of greatness among the African American history as it pertains to Black women’s role in that history. I love that she highlights women from all walks of life doing the extraordinary in all fields. She makes it possible for little girls to dream big, no matter the dream.

I hope you enjoyed this little book round up. All of these books are available online for purchase and make a great for a great gift. What do you think? Is there a book you feel should have made the list?