As this newsletter hits your inbox at the tail end of Women’s History Month, please joining us in celebrating the historic nomination of DC-born Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. When confirmed, Judge Jackson will become the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court. The extraordinarily qualified Judge Jackson is a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Breyer (who’s seat she has been nominated to fill), worked as a public defender (and will become the first former public defender to serve on the Supreme Court), and has served as a federal district and then appellate judge over the past decade. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Judge Jackson’s Senate confirmation hearing became a showcase of racism and sexism. But Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) refused to allow attacks on Judge Jackson to steal his joy. His exchange with Judge Jackson, in which he acknowledges her perseverance and celebrates her achievements, will likely move you to tears. Check it out. And your children might get a kick out of The Wise Channel’s profile of Judge Jackson!
The Poetry Foundation has an incredible resource page for exploring poetry with children, including a collection of children’s poems, learning activities, and some beautiful videos that help illustrate the poet's words. Check out Monsters by Dorothea Lasky or The Tropics in New York by Claude McKay, read by Ziggy Marley.
Also, Janet Wong, winner of the 2021 NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award, has a great collection of her poems as printables on her website.
Here’s a read aloud of the poetic Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis.
Your child(ren) might also enjoy this read aloud of Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade.
