The Best of the Brownies' Book (The Iona and Peter Opie Library of Children's Literature)

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding collection
Review: First, I must point out the error in the Amazon product details. This book is not for ages 4 to 8. As pointed out in the School Library Journal review, the readability level is for grades 6 and above. I'm enjoying reading it aloud to my 8 year old daughter, who is fascinated by the fact that there was a Brownies children magazine in 1920. This is an outstanding collection and a "must" for every child's bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Brownies' Book
Review: This is an excellent book on an important subject. I sincerely wish it was still around. Self-esteem and a positive self-concept for children of color, especially African-American children are still areas that need a lot of work. Our world is still consumed with an abundant amount of negative images and stereotypes of people of color. This book is wonderful in counteracting that, covering all areas of life; art, athletics, academics, social. It confronts the emotional needs of our children. Every home, school and library should have a collection of the stories and letters found in this book. I will certainly use it in my classroom. I wish I had the gift of prose so that I could properly give the type of review this book deserves. Not only is it appropriate for use as a tool in helping children to realize their self-worth, it's also a wonderful item for those who wish to collect African-American artifacts but cannot afford the more costly items. The book contains stories and poems written by known writers and by "ordinary" children of 1920-21. It also contains letters from "enquiring" minds. Again, it made me wish I could own the whole collection, not just the best of.