Testing the Ice Review

October 21, 2009 by noirmom1
Filed under Activites, News, Product Reviews, Reading

Several months back I wrote an article titled “Books for Just for Me” that read like this:

“This past week I went to several book stores searching for books with illustrations of brown children. What I found was bleek and saddening. We, as parents want to encourage our children to read. But why should all of the books be pictures of children that do not look like our kids.

Of course you can always find books by black authors online….but I want to be able to spend time in the book store with my daughter when she gets older for her to build a desire to read.

What is required to get more books in the store for brown children?
Is this our fault? Are we not buying books so the demand is not there?”

Well, I was contacted by a media company to do a review for a children’s book. Without hesitation my first reply would always be yes, for a children’s book. To my surprise, I never imagined how moved I would be by this children’s story and this book will be added to my list of favorites.

Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson

After finding out the book was by the daughter of the legendary Jackie Robinson this only added to my over excitement. I love to read my daughter and a new book in my home is the equivalent to new shoes for Mommie.

I was anticipating the arrival of my new book the moment I hit send on the email agreeing to do the book review. When the book finally arrived I was taken back, the beautiful illustrations are breathtaking well done is an understatement. I was already out done before I read the words on the pages.

I finally sat down to read the story to my daughter and fell in love with the Robinson Family. Page by page, I developed a different perspective of the man, the legend Jackie Robinson. This legend was not from the perspective of the avid baseball fan but through the eyes of a child. To every child their parent’s are a hero/legend.

When we as parents find wonderful stories of brown children and illustrations of brown children we must do our part to support the book. We cannot later complain that there are not many Books for Brown Children if we will not support the books. We must create the demand for the stores to place books for our children on the shelf.

Suggested Readers:

This is a story of children’s adventures, a child’s admiration for their father, family, wholesome fun and most importantly bravery and courage to break down barriers.

All Children (male and female, all races) should add this book to their collection of books or libraries
This book makes an excellent Birthday or Holiday Gift
Parents: if this book is not at your local book store, library or school library please suggest management orders this book

PROS