Venable recently hosted a series of virtual reading circles to help children explore and understand our country's diverse history. Open to the young family members of Venable employees, as well as those of our clients, the circles showcased a selection of age-appropriate books that aim to celebrate our differences while promoting inclusion and understanding. Over the course of two weeks, the narrated stories introduced children to a variety of Black achievers, ranging from the four "hidden figures" who were instrumental in the 1960s space race to game changers like Jackie Robinson. The circles are a component of the Venable Success Network's Moments and Movements programming.
The selected books allowed the kids to delve into pivotal movements in the ongoing journey to racial equity, such as the Underground Railroad, the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, the Harlem Renaissance, and the integration of our public schools. Among the readers were Venable attorneys Nikki Hasselbarth, Lisa Tavares, Claudia Lewis, Belinda Vega, Gueter Aurelien, Ebony Thompson, Allyson Baker, Thomasina Poirot, and Craig Thompson, who (helped on by his son Carter) read from his own books, The ABCs of Black History and The ABCs of Black Inventors. Each of the readers did a great job engaging the children with the stories while encouraging them to share their own thoughts and reactions. Please see our full selection of stories below, which we invite you to explore with your own children.
Book Selections:
The ABCs of Black History: A Children's Guide – by Craig Thompson (Ages 3-7)
The ABCs of Black Inventors: A Children's Guide – by Craig Thompson (Ages 3-7)
I'm Like You, You're Like Me: A Book About Understanding and Appreciating Each Other – by Cindy Gainer (Ages 3-7)
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race – by Margot Lee Shetterly (Ages 4-8)
I am Harriet Tubman (Ordinary People Change the World) – by Brad Meltzer (Ages 5-10)
I am Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ordinary People Change the World) – by Brad Meltzer (Ages 5-10)
If You Were a Kid During the Civil Rights Movement – by Gwendolyn Hooks (Ages 7-10)