What’s Missing from History? Explore the New Read Woke™ Books to Find Out

Left Out of History

Have you ever considered what’s missing from the history books? What isn’t mentioned regarding major events and massive turning points in the past? Find out just that in the Left Out of History series where the underexamined and misunderstood are explored.

Read Woke ™ branches out this season to fiction in the new chapter book series Bo at the Buzz! The series follows Bo, whose life is always buzzing. And not just because he lives upstairs from The Buzz, a barbershop. Young readers will love following Bo’s daily life and adventures in these early chapter books.

Today creators Cicely Lewis, Elliott Smith, and illustrator Subi Bosa share how they crafted the world of the Buzz and the characters who live there.

By Megan Ciskowski, Associate Publicist

After a long period of virtual events, educators and publishers from around the nation will gather in Washington, DC for this year’s ALA Annual. We want to see you at the Lerner booth 1307! Come meet some of our authors and illustrators, learn about our upcoming titles, and grab some free ARCs. Read on to see all Lerner events.

We’re thrilled to share a guest post from Dr. Artika Tyner. Dr. Tyner is a passionate educator, award-winning author, a civil rights attorney, a sought-after speaker, and an advocate for justice. She is the founder of the Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute and an author of many incredible Lerner titles including books in the series The Fight for Black Rights and the biography Stacey Abrams: Champion of Democracy. Below, Dr. Tyner shares some details from her recent visit to Ghana.

Leaders are Readers. This statement represents the mission and vision of our nonprofit organization, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute. We are committed to inspiring the next generation of leaders through the transformative power of reading. We achieve this goal by supporting schools and libraries, promoting literacy, donating diverse books, and hosting our annual youth leadership summit around the world.

In the series American Slavery and the Fight for Freedom, new in January 2022 from the Read Woke™ Books collection, readers are shown the history of slavery and its lasting legacy in the United States. Like all Read Woke™ Books, this six-book series was created in partnership with Cicely Lewis, the Read Woke librarian. In this post, see examples of the ways primary sources are utilized in the books (including audio clips you can preview yourself). Plus, keep reading to learn about the Read Woke™ teaching guide, available now to all educators.

The use of primary sources is a major part of the American Slavery and the Fight for Freedom series. These sources highlight the experiences of enslaved people and the lives of Black people beyond the aftermath of the Civil War (1861–1865). In each book, readers will find two voices quotes. In the example below from Resistance to Slavery: From Escape to Everyday Rebellion, the quote expands on the information given in this text by allowing readers to see an enslaved person’s reflection of their time in slavery.