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Reset is the official monthly newsletter of Evanston Public Library's Collection Advisory Committee of Black Evanstonians. This committee is dedicated to advising EPL on purchases, selection, displays, and all aspects of collection development. Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.

Brighten Up Your May With Some Beautiful Books for Kids and Teens

We're highlighting some of the best and newest children's books this month, so be sure to take a look at some of our suggestions!

Can Your Principal Do That? Dr. Michael Allen Pens a Book of His Own

Dr. Michael Allen is the principal of Oakton Elementary School in Evanston. In 2020 he was named Elementary Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association. Dr. Allen grew up in the housing projects of Zion, Illinois and experienced homelessness in childhood. Today he sees himself as a voice for and to empower marginalized people, both students and leaders. He’s the author of Brotherly Love, published in 2020. This book for middle graders describes the true story of how he helped his struggling youngest brother by removing him from an unstable home life, advocating for him, and enrolling him in high school in Valparaiso, Indiana where Michael himself was an undergraduate in college. This challenging experience, born out of love, made Dr. Allen realize his life’s mission: to be there for those who are vulnerable and to liberate everyone searching for the freedom to be themselves. Dr. Allen spoke recently with EPL's podcast The Check Out. Here's a sample of what he had to say:

Evanston Public Library: So you were just 24-years-old when you became a principal. What inspired you to enter the field of education and how did you end up being a principal so quickly?

Dr. Allen: What I learned really early on, at 21 when I was first able to get Gilbert and bring him back to Valparaiso with me, is that he was kid who came in with a unique profile. He was a 10th grader reading at a 4th grade level. He was receiving special education services at the time and so I learned for the first time how to advocate for the unique and complex needs that he had that were different from most other kids in his grade level. So, in going through that process and realizing how relentless I had to be in order for him to be seen according to his abilities (as opposed to what his skills were at that point in time) it sort of lit a fire in me to understand that one of the things that I believe I was born to do is to do this on a larger scale for the people who don't have the Michaels or the folks who cannot have unique and progressive approaches to accelerate learning for complex learners. Within five months of having him, I decided that not only did I want to go into education but I wanted to be a principal. I saw the principal at the time as the person who was the gatekeeper between removing the barriers that ultimately empower or disenfranchise learners of unique backgrounds. That was sort of what my decision process was. As strange as it may sound it was really simple for me. Okay. This is who I am for my brother and this is what I understand the world needs and I can do something about it.

Listen to the full podcast with Dr. Allen here and learn more about the book Brotherly Love at brotherlylovebook.com.

Submit to 10th Ward Lit: The Digital Literary Magazine of Evanston Public Library

10th Ward Lit showcases the talented and diverse voices of writers all over Evanston! Submissions for the first issue of the magazine, "The Coronavirus Issue," are welcome now through May 31. Poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, sequential fiction (comics), photography, and illustration will all be accepted. Learn more about the submission guidelines and how to submit here. 

A Glimpse Into the Future: Children's Books You Aren't Going to Want to Miss

EPL's 101 Great Books for Kids Committee is constantly reading as many books as possible, making sure that no author gets missed. Here are some books the committee has been loving that are due out in the next few months. Get a sneak peek into the future with these amazing titles.

Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty by Charles R. Smith Jr.  “Shimmy, shake, spin, stride / dribble in, step back, dribble out, slide.” Meet 12 of today’s hottest basketball champs as Charles R. Smith Jr. makes their poetry on the court into poetry on the page. Coming out September 7th.

Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman, ill. Loren Long Having already conquered the world with her poetry at the 2021 inauguration, Amanda Gorman turns her attention to the youngest of readers with this picture book celebrating change both in the world and in yourself. On shelves September 21st.

Boo Stew by Donna L. Washington, ill. Jeffrey Ebbeler Nobody in Toadsuck Swamp can stomach the food Curly Locks dishes up. But when three Scares invade the Mayor’s home, her oddball cooking comes to the rescue. Storyteller Donna Washington puts a twist on the classic Goldilocks tale. On shelves September 1st.

The Me I Choose to Be by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, ill. Regis and Kahran Bethencourt “I am a superhero yet unnamed / I am laughter that falls like rain.” Fantastic, surreal Afro-futuristic photography coupled with a life-affirming text helps turn ordinary kids into their extraordinary selves. On shelves October 19th.

New to Kanopy: The Must See Films You Shouldn't Miss

Remember that you can stream all of these films through the library's Kanopy subscription, absolutely for free. View this tutorial to show you how. Try it today!

State of the Art A journey of artistic discovery... 100,000 miles, 1,000 destinations in search of 100 under-recognized American artists for one unforgettable exhibition. This film captures the stories of seven of the artists from the groundbreaking exhibit.

Binti Binti, a 12-year-old vlogger, plots a scheme with her new friend Elias. She wants to bring their parents together in order to save her future.

My Beautiful Stutter Follows five kids who stutter, ages 9 to 18, from all over the United States and all walks of life, who, after experiencing a lifetime of bullying and stigmatization, meet other children who stutter at an interactive arts-based program, The Stuttering Association for the Young, based in New York City.