Learn Together

Sharing art and history with children helps them gain understanding of their community and feel a responsibility to help take care of it.

Materials

  • Computer, tablet, or phone to view the video and resources
  • A comfortable place to sit together

Imagine Together

Enjoy a reading of “Blue Sky White Stars” by Sankofa Read Aloud. 

Author Sarvinder Naberhaus repeats words throughout the story, while artist Kadir Nelson’s illustrations show different meanings for these words. This book helps us think about the different meanings words can have. This book is an important reminder that everyone may have different views of the world, depending on who they are and where they come from.

  • When Sankofa Read Aloud shares this story, repeat the phrase after they read each page. Notice the pictures change when the words repeat.
  • Pause the video to discuss the difference between the illustrations. 
  • What hints is the book giving us when we read “Blue Sky White Stars. Red Rows. White Rows.”? 
  • Discuss what you see when you look at the two illustrations with the lines “Sew together one nation. So together one nation.”  
  • Discuss what you see when you look at the two illustrations with the lines “All American. All American.” What do you imagine when you hear these words? 

The illustrations in the book are painted by artist Kadir Nelson. Kadir is an award-winning American author and artist who recently painted the cover for the New Yorker in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. 

  • Together explore the interactive cover that remembers African Americans lost to violence. When you click on the link, scroll down to see the details of the artwork.
  • Discuss some of the stories shared in the illustration. 
  • What does the word “freedom” mean to you? How might this word mean different things to different people?  
  • What steps can you take as a family to help all American’s feel free?
  • Here are some Resources For Talking About Race, Racism And Racialized Violence With Kids from the Center for Racial Justice in Education.

Learn more about Kadir Nelson’s art. 

Enjoy more stories with Sankofa Read Aloud. Sankofa Read Aloud believes that it is vital that our African American children are able to see themselves within the beautiful stories that they read.