Fabulous New Children's Book

I love teaching my children about African American history.  When I found this book at my local library, I was thrilled.  The illustrations are stunning, and the story is well-written.      Plus, it features an African American male, which is rare.

I had the honor of interviewing the book's author recently:

Rachel:  I recently discovered your book Freedom Song: The Story of Henry "Box" Brown. Can you summarize the book for my readers?

Sally Walker:  The book is the story of Henry Brown, who in 1849 mailed himself to freedom. He made the journey inside a wooden box. His trip was from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had to remain silent the whole trip, which lasted more than 24 hours, so no one would discover him and return him to his master. Why he finally felt he had to make the trip I won't say. That's for readers to discover.

R:  Why did you decide to tell Henry's story? What do you hope readers take away from the book?

SW:  Family is very important to me. My children are the loves of my life, so Henry's story struck a particular chord in me and I felt so badly for him. Music also plays a large role in our lives. So, discovering that Henry liked to sing seemed a natural focus for telling his tale.

I'd like readers to realize that everyone, even in the darkest of times, has an inner strength that can give them the courage and fortitude to carry on and take action. I think, ultimately, Henry's story is one of hope.

 

 
R:  Do you plan to write more books featuring African American characters? Will you write anymore historical biographies like Henry's?

SW:  I have actually written two other biographies, both early readers, about African Americans. Bessie Coleman: Daring to Fly is about the first African American woman to get an airplane pilot's license. The barriers she had to overcome were huge, but she was determined to accomplish her goal. I can tell you one thing: I would never have the guts to fly in the type of planes she did!

The other book is about Jackie Robinson. (Good for this time of year, as it's baseball season!) I wrote that one because Jackie Robinson was one of my dad's heroes. He saw him play a couple of times in the 1940s, shortly after Jackie broke the major league color barrier. My dad always told me Jackie was a man of honor and great courage.

Both Bessie and Jackie can be found in most public library collections. And summertime was made for relaxing with a book. I always like to remind parents--new and old ones--that a library card is free and gives kids a ticket to the world.

What's the Magic Number? Or, In Other Words, What Is The Limit?

We are often asked, "When are you adopting again?" or "Are you adopting again?"

(It's sort of like asking a couple who can have bio kids, "When are you gonna get it on and conceive another baby?"  Ok, not quite...)

I don't know what our magic number is.   I'm really open to God's plan for our family.   I often feel the nudge to pursue foster care adoption---but we've been told that we wouldn't be approved for kids older than our children.  I really considered adopting an African American sibling group----a triple minority in the foster care system:  black, siblings (multiples), and older (age).   Sigh.

But as always, domestic infant adoption tugs at our hearts, because we've done it twice.  We feel prepared and comfortable to do DIA again.    And there's a bit of relief when it comes to parenting a child who comes to us so young.   Birth order isn't disrupted.   Breathe.

I doubt we'll ever adopt internationally.  It's too hard to do with our jobs (we can't take that much time off work) and with our girls (take them?  leave them?).   And it's very costly, much more than domestic, which is about $18K for us, or foster care adoption, which is free.

We're also often asked, "Don't you want a boy?" or "Are you going to get a boy next time?"  The assumption is that we aren't satisfied parenting two girls or we feel something is missing without a boy. 

I don't know what our future holds.  I'm excited to see what each season of life brings our way.    One thing is true in adoption----whatever you plan for, it won't happen.  :)    Be ready for life's next adventure by throwing caution to the wind, trusting God, and being thankful. 

Ask Rachel: Domestic Adoption Profile Books

Ren, a blog reader, recently left a comment and asked if I have any suggestions on creating your domestic adoption profile book.  

Here are some tips and thoughts regarding profile books:

1:  Tell the truth.    :)      Don't worry about having the prettiest, most exciting, full of glitter (haha--like the couple on Modern Family who had a musical-pop up-glitter profile book---what a riot!) profile book.   Let your book reflect who you truly are.    If you love baseball----include those baseball game photos.   If you like to garden---include a picture of your garden.   Active family?  Travel often?   Love movie nights at home?   Gather photos that show your family's true colors.  

You want to be chosen for who you truly are.    Don't be deceptive!

2:  Captions count.   Put captions under your photos.   State who is in the picture, the date, and what is happening.    

3:  Put it together well.    I recall a birth parent telling me that she saw a few profiles that were black and white copied pages stapled together.     One, copies aren't the best way to display photos.   Two, where is the care?    Make a photo book from scratch or on a photo website so it's easy to read.  Plus, if you make the photo book online, you can easily order more books as needed, and most sites store photos and photo projects forever.

4:  Have fun!    The profile book isn't just for expectant parents; it's also for you.   Adoption is a journey, and your book reflects where you have been and where you hope to go.     Enjoy putting it together! 

Touching My Child's Hair...

is like me touching your freshly done manicure.   I will probably ding your polish in some way...making it less than ideal, even pointless.   You took time to get that manicure.  It took money.  It took effort on someone's part.  It looks nice.  But despite all these things, I feel entitled to touch your nails.   How does that make you feel?

Touching my daughter's hair is inappropriate and uncool for the following reasons:

1:  You don't have permission to touch her.  

2:  She's not a pet.

3:  It took me a LONG time to do her hair and your hands mess it up.

4:  Touching African American hair can damage it.

5:  It's annoying.

6:  It's invading her personal space.  And yes, a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 year old are real people, even if they are small and young.

7:  It's weird. 

8:  It's unnecessary.

9:  I don't know where your hands have been.

10: My girls don't exist to satisfy your curiosity about black hair.

I've always thought, so it's ok to randomly touch people?!  A pregnant woman's stomach, for example?   A disabled person's wheelchair?   What's an ok and not-ok touch?  

Is it ok if you rub my child's head if I just reach out and rub your boob?  Your butt?   Your neck? 

Just.

Don't.

Do.

It. 

Thanks.

Attachment Resources

Recently, we had a guest speaker at one of my adoptive mama meetings.  Shirley Crenshaw was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable!   Here is a link to her webpage which features resources on the subject of attachment.   Happy reading!

Resources!

Friends,

If you haven't visited my Resources page in awhile, take some time to browse!  I'm adding new titles every week, giving my blog readers many educational titles on the subjects of adoption, diversity, siblinghood, African American history, and more.

Summer is a great time to catch up no reading!


Some of my favorite recently added books include:

I'm Here (Peter H. Reynolds):  A story featuring a boy with autism.  (Fab illustrations!)

Being Lara (Lola Jaye):  A fiction title written by a former foster child.  Her main character, Lara, copes with being transracially adopted and reunites with her birth mother.

Another Brother (Matthew Cordell):  Poor Davy!  He loved being an only child, but then mom and dad kept adding to the family until there were 12 brothers!   Davy can't catch a break as his brothers are constantly in his way.   Is there hope? 

Freedom Song:  The Story of Henry "Box" Brown (Sally M. Walker):  The book jacket says it all-:  "Walker weaves a lyrical, moving story of the human spirit" as she shares the story of Henry Brown, a boy who grows into a man who loses his family to slavery.   Henry hides himself in a box and is shipped to his freedom and hopefully, to his family.          

Have an Adoption/Race/Healthy Living/Etc. Question?

Send it my way!  whitebrownsugar AT hotmail DOT com

I've been getting some great questions these past few weeks.   If you'd like your question (and my answer) published on my blog, let me know.  I won't disclose your name and location unless you want me to.