Book Review: “A is for Activist” by Innosanto Nagara

A is for Activist
by Innosanto Nagara
Kupu Kupu Press, 2012, $15

 

A is for Activist.

B is for banner, bobbing in the sky.

It’s pretty clear from page one that this is no Cat in the Hat. Billed as a book for the children of the 99%, A is for Activist is the radical vision of Innosanto (Inno) Nagara, a graphic designer and social justice activist from Oakland, California.

Like most parents, Nagara had little trouble finding books with colorful pictures and fun rhymes to inspire a love of words in his young son. But after reading aloud hundreds of tales featuring princesses, knights, and dogs, the absence of progressive themes in children’s books became abundantly clear.

So Nagara decided to rectify the shortage, despite having zero experience as a children’s book author (or any other kind of author, for that matter). The original plan called for limited press run—one copy for Nagara’s son and a few others for close family and friends.

But as it turned out, Nagara was not the only parent hungry for end rhymes featuring revolutionaries and social-justice luminaries. A is for Activist blossomed, as coworkers helped generate content, and a Kickstarter campaign defrayed the cost of development. After seven months of design, writing, revision, and a self-taught course in self-publishing, Nagara produced an ABC book with a decidedly un-Disney outlook. 

To wit:

D is for democracy.

G is for Grassroots.

L- G- B – T – Q
Love who you Choose!

The alliteration and rhymes have the rhythm and fun of standard ABC books, burrowing into little ears and prompting memorization and spontaneous recitation.

“It’s pretty awesome to hear a three year old saying ‘union power,’” Nagara says.

Throughout the alphabet, topics ignored by most toddler tomes at last get their due. Cooperative workplaces. Unions. Feminism. Immigrant rights. The challenging content raises the question whether Nagara considered changing the message, perhaps to appeal to a broader readership.

“Sure, there were moments when I thought, maybe I should change this…but then I thought, why write the book at all if the message was going to be diluted?” Nagara said.

The undiluted message has caught the attention of leading progressive figures, including authorNaomi Klein and her partner Avi Lewis, who proclaimed it “Full of wit, beauty, and fun!” Native American activist and children’s book author Winona LaDuke called it a “fun and vital resource.”

And for all the families out there eager to transmit their values at story time, it is indeed vital. After all, there aren’t too many alphabet books that begin with Activists and end with Zapatistas.

To order, visit aisforactivist.com.

Corey Hill wrote this article for YES! Magazine, a national, nonprofit media organization that fuses powerful ideas and practical actions. He is the Membership and Outreach Coordinator at Global Exchange. Follow Corey on Twitter at @Newschill.

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Shared via Yes! Magazine

Review by Corey Hill

New Christmas book & CD interprets Santa story in rhyme

A new Christmas book, “Santa’s First Magical Ride” was just released by West Seattle residents Paul and Libby Carr, their 12 chapters of rhyming couplets augmented by world-class illustrator Herb Leonhard of Prosser, WA. Paul was the author, while Libby is marketing the book. The story offers an explanation of where Santa was born, why the elves live in the North Pole, and other answers that parents might share with their youngsters.

Libby said the book’s 7” x 7” hardback format makes it well-suited for Christmas gifts for companies and organizations to give employees and customers.

This is Leonhard’s 26th book. He has illustrated books ranging from “Lyrics by Tori Amos” to “Lewis & Clark in the Pacific Northwest Coloring Book”.

The Carr’s of Alki are well-known, in part, for their work in establishing the new Statue of Liberty and Plaza there. Perhaps less known is that this creative duet adopted the Santa & Mrs. Claus persona for many a Christmas.

“For over 10 years we both have done the Mr. and Mrs. Claus thing for kids,” said Paul, whose voice is heard on the CD, an entire reading of the book. He has done radio and TV voice work for years, and said the audio together with the text can be used as a learning tool for children. He belongs to an actual organization named”The Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas”.

Paul recalled, “We used to do this thing where I’d play a little guitar and Libby would sing (in the Santa gear) and then I’d ask, ‘Aren’t there any questions you have for Santa?’ At first they’d be shy, then the questions would all pour out. Then, they’d come up and tell me what they wanted for Christmas.”

He began writing his self-published book about 10 years ago, and revisited it over time. Libby explained what compelled them to take on the subject matter of offering answers to hard questions kids have traditionally asked for years about Santa and his elves.

“We started dressing up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to see our grandkids in Yakima,” said Libby. “On our way back one Christmas we stopped in Ellensburg at our favorite BBQ restaurant and all of a sudden there are three kids from the same family standing at our table. The oldest, a nine year old boy asked, ‘OK. How do the reindeer fly? How do you get around the world in one night, and how do you get all those toys into one bag?’

“Our jaws dropped, and we said, ‘That’s a good question. It’s magic. Ask your mother.’ It was very embarrassing. That January Paul sat down and began to write this book.”

Their book’s website answers some of the questions. According to “Santa’s First Magical Ride”, Santa was born on another planet called “Yule”. He was brought to the North Pole as a baby. On Earth, humans had threatened the elves for their magic, and they sought refuge at the North Pole. The book tells of a quest of trust among the factions. The book has 9,500 words of a layered history based on Nordic myth, imagination, and other sources.

“I don’t know that we thought about this much before doing it but when you put these suits on you are all of a sudden a cherished and loved archetype,” said Libby, acknowledging a surprising responsibility that goes with the garb.

Added Paul, “Santa represents the light in the dark of the night for the benefit of the children. And the kids are the future. They are the light, too.”

“When you take the time to talk to kids they will start telling you about their real concerns,” Paul said. “They might say they want you to help someone else they know in need.”

Added Libby, “They’ve told Paul that for Christmas they want Mom and Dad to stop fighting.”

“These are things they would never say if they were just slammed on my lap at a department store to tell me what they want, and then get the photo op,” said Paul. “Kids really believe innately that Santa loves them unconditionally, and that’s what we all want, really.”

The Carrs are available to appear as Santa & Mrs. Claus.

For more information, go to: http://www.yulestory.com
or contact Libby Carr at 206-938-8721; libby@yulestory.com.

By

Kristi Bernard (Overland Park, KS) – See all my reviews

Arty is a little acorn hanging from the branch of his father a giant tree in the backyard of a young boy. All the little acorns were happy when their time came to fall to the ground. They knew that falling would take them on a wonderful journey. They could help the animals stay strong and healthy in the winter, or they would be made into a beautiful necklace for a young boy’s mother. Some would play with the squirrels and roll around the ground like a ball. But Arty was too afraid to let go of the branch. He wanted to know what would happen to him. His brothers and sisters tried to convince him to let go, but he wouldn’t. He clung to the tree and soon was all alone. The big oak told Arty that the young boy was moving away and that he would miss him climbing and tickling his bark. The big oak also tells Arty it is time for him to find his destiny. He breaks the branch and Arty floats to the ground and falls on a pile of leaves. The young boy discovers him and Arty is taken to his new home and planted. Arty’s destiny is to become a giant oak like his father.

This is a great story for parents and teachers to share with young children in discovering what they can do and what they hope to be when they grow up. It will open up dialogue for parents and teachers to educate young minds on the possibilities of what they can be and not to be afraid.