Good Relatives Book Club January 2021
Hello Good Relatives!
One of the best things to come out 2020 was the Good Relatives Book Club! I am so excited for this year and for all the books we have lined up. I am also excited that we are growing our Book Club to include more for you and the kiddos in your life. In this blog, I wanted to share where we started and where we are going this year! Make sure that you join the Facebook group to get more updates and see what is happening each month with the group.
Origin of the Good Relatives Book Club
One of the things we missed the most last year was going to the library. Every other Saturday the kids and I would pack up our books, drive to the local library and spend a couple of hours playing with the toys, making new friends, and most importantly, choosing our new books. Our library often had activities such as reading to dogs or seasonal art projects and we loved going. Unfortunately, like many of the social activities last year, we were forced to stop our biweekly ritual due to all the necessary precautions with COVID-19.
While my kids were disappointed and still asked when we could go back, I was the most saddened by this news. I love the library! As a child, we would visit the bookmobile because our local library was too far. When a library was finally built in our rural town, we would visit biweekly, or sometimes weekly, depending on how quickly we finished our stack of books. Having a library card was a big deal and responsibility. I am still very much looking forward to going through that process with my children.
While we have a large amount of books in our home, going to the library offered the opportunity to expand our collection briefly. We are fortunate that our library has a diverse collection which often included Native and Indigenous writers. I loved that my children were able to see themselves in books that they enjoyed reading.
When we could no longer go to the library, we depended on our own books. I noticed that our home collection, while large, was limited. Out of the nearly hundred books we had, only five were written by Native writers. I was shocked. I wanted to ensure that my babies could still enjoy books by Native writers and we could expand our collection.
I also was talking with other parents and they expressed some of the same concerns. They wanted diverse books. They wanted children’s books by Native writers, but weren’t sure what was out there and sometimes, if the Native book advertised was even written by a Native writer. You would not believe the number of children’s books that are supposedly Native content, but have absolutely no relationship with Native people.
After many conversations, I decided to start the Good Relatives Book Club. The Good Relatives Book Club is a community of caretakers that want to ensure the children in their lives have a diverse collection of books. Each month, GRBC features a children’s book by an Indigenous writer. We work with Native publishers, librarians, and writers to ensure that the books we feature have been written by Indigenous writers.
Another priority I wanted to address with GRBC is to ensure that we were buying books from Indigenous Bookstores. I talked with Red Planet Books and Comics. Founded in 2017, Red Planet Books and Comics is the only Indigenous comic shop in the world. They sell and distribute comics, books, games, toys and collectibles by, for, and about Native and Indigenous peoples. It has been such a great partnership and we will continue to support their business.
Last year, we started a Facebook group and shared one book a month. After talking with our group members, GRBC realized that they wanted more. This year, we are not only sharing the book of the month, but we are also sharing some activities that you can do to further your book experience. Since many children are still learning from home, this is a great way to support their learning.
If you are on the email list, you receive the activities and the corresponding printables. Join the email list here.
January 2021 Book
This month’s book for January 2021 is “The First Fire: a Cherokee Story,” written and illustrated by Brad Wagnon and Alex Stephenson, who are both Cherokee Nation and Published by 7th Generation Book Publishing. In addition to being the origin story of fire and the explanation of many animal characteristics, GRBC chose this book for both its beautiful story and drawings. The authors truly captured the essence of this traditional story in a fun and charming way.
First Fire Activities
In order to get the corresponding printables, you have to sign up for the email list. The printables are free and can be used for a multitude of activities.
First Fire Race
In the book, First Fire, different animals try to get the fire. This activity can be an inside or outside game and will build their gross motor skills.
Materials:
Animal Cards
Fire
Instructions:
Tape the fire on the wall or on a fence.
Have the child choose an animal card.
The child then has to move like that animal to get to the fire. (For example, if they get the rabbit, they have to hop like a rabbit to the end.)
You can take turns or make it a race. (Variation: Have the child also make the animal noise as they are making their way to the fire.)
First Fire Coloring Sheets
In the book, First Fire, as the different animals try to reach the fire, their colors change. This activity can be an inside or outside game and will build their creativity and fine motor skills.
Materials:
Coloring Sheets
crayons/markers/colored pencils
Instructions:
Have each child pick a coloring sheet
Talk about the different animals as the child colors.
There is room to write the name of the picture in your Indigenous language.
This is also a good time to talk repeat colors to one another
Also included is information about the author’s tribe.
Animal Matching Game
For this activity, you will need to print two copies of the animal cards. Cardstock would be best or you can glue the animal cards to a cereal box, so that they are more sturdy.
Materials:
2 copies of animal card on cardstock
Instructions:
Mix the animal cards.
Place animal cards face up. (For older children you can lay the cards face down for more of a memory game.)
Have the children match the animal cards.
Weaving A Spider Web Alphabet Activity
In the book First Fire, Water Spider helps everyone by weaving a basket. In this activity we will practice weaving a spider web. Weaving a spider web is a great activity to develop fine motor skills and adding the alphabet helps support literacy. This is great for children 1 ½ to 5 years old.
Materials:
paper plate
yarn
hole punch
permanent marker
tape
Instructions:
Cut out the center of the paper plate.
Punch holes around the paper plate. Space them out a bit so you have room for letters.
Write a letter next to each hole.
Cut off a strand of yarn about 36″ long. Tie it to the first hole you would like your child to start with. Mine was “a.”
Tape the other end of the yarn so that it is easier to thread it through the holes.
This activity can be found at here.
First Fire Safety
In the book, First Fire, the animals learn about the strength of fire. This activity centers on fire safety and making a plan. It’s never too early for a plan.
Instructions:
Talk about fire safety with child and practice safe ways to get out of the house.
Plan a fire safety evacuation drill. Assign one child each day to hold a bell or other “alarm” and let them choose the time anytime throughout the day to ring it and shout “Fire! Fire!” and for the other kids to evacuate. (Variation: For older children create some unexpected roadblocks/obstacles from time to time such as taping up an imaginary fire that means kids cannot leave the building through that route.)
This activity and more fire safety activities can be found at here.
Conclusion
If you want to ensure that your children are getting books by Indigenous authors, join the Good Relatives Book Club. All you have to do is sign up for the email list. Each month you will receive an email about the book of the month, a set of activities, and the corresponding printables. You will also receive discount codes for Red Planet Books and Comics and hopefully for other Native owned businesses in the future.
Also, if you are on Facebook, join the Facebook group. It is a community of caretakers that share information and are truly supportive of each other.
And sign up to the email list here.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are my own.
