7 Books that Reinforce Familial Love
By Dr. Nosakher Griffin-EL, Ph.D.
All of the book implicitly or explicitly addresses the notion of love as the foundational attribute needed to build strong families. These book teach children and parents the importance of and how familial love feels.
Michelle is a biography of the amazing former first lady of the United States of America Michele Obama. This inspirational book shows the role that parental love and educational excellence played in Michelle Obama’s life. The book tells the story of how Mrs. Obama stay-at-home mother who taught her and her brother to read at when they were very young. Her parents both promoted the importance of educational excellence over material things of the world. Her story teaches parents that love and excellence are essential elements to that all dreams are built upon!
I Love You Too by Ziggy Marley is a great read. This is a book about random moments in life. It is a reminder that parents tell their children in detail what they love about their children. The book reads like a song because it is one. The beautiful pictures and illustrations what love looks like. The poetic words allow kids to understand what love sounds. This is a great tool for parents when they want to reinforce their love for their children. This is a must-read.
Brothers and Sister Family Poems by Eloise Greenfield is a book celebrating Black family life. These poems capture what it is like to be a sibling from the perspective of children. These poems show the beauty of having a sibling through the good and the bad times. For parents, this book serves a tool to talk about how their children can learn to love and appreciate each other. The book’s pictures capture the beauty of Black brotherhood and sisterhood!
Homemade Love by bell hooks is a great read. This book focuses on a loving relationship between a girl and her parents. Using words of affirmation, hooks teaches parents that thru the ups and downs of daily life, children need to feel loved. The book has beautiful images that show Black family in a positive light.
Hewitt Anderson’s Great Big Life by Jerdine Nolen is an amazing book about giving children the space to discover their strengths. Hewitt was a small boy born into a family of giants. His worry filled parents wondered if he can survive in the world as a small person. This book takes the reader on a journey where Hewitt displays the ability to see barriers as opportunities to maximize his human potential. This is a great book that teaches parents that we have to love our children towards their personal greatness. The beautiful illustrations offer a great opportunity for dialogue between parents and children.
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell is a book about familial sacrifice and dreams. Uncle Jed was a traveling barber who had a beloved niece. His dream was to one day open his own barbershop. Through his travels he earns enough money to open his dream barbershop, but his beloved niece falls ill. When he is faced with the decision whether to help pay for his niece’s medical bill or use the money to open his barbershop. He decides to pay for his niece’s medical bill and delay his dream. This book shows children that the road toward their dreams will have barriers, but with the powerful tool of resilience dreams can be carried out.
These Hands by Margaret Mason is an amazing story. The author does a wonderful job at telling a man’s life story by how he was allowed or not allowed to use his hands. Using the medium of a dialogue between a grandfather and grandson, the author tells an amazing story of a man struggles to end the racist system of Jim Crow. The grandfather’s successful struggle creates the limitless possibilities for his grandson to develop and pursue dreams. This is a great tool teach children about the underline issues of the Civil Rights Movement.
