MEMBERSHIP
Books for Readers and Pre-Readers
Celebrating Diversity , Empowerment , and Kindness at Any Age .
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F . BEAU HOWARD Fox Rothschild LLP fbhoward @ foxrothschild . com
BONNIE S . LEVINE Verse Legal bonnie @ verselegal . com
Atlanta attorneys have a special connection with Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr . and a unique proximity to the lasting impact he and other local civil rights leaders have made on the law , even as the work is far from done . Of critical importance in this ongoing journey is education and awareness , and one can never be too young to learn messages of diversity , inclusion , self-empowerment , and compassion for others . In keeping with this issue ’ s focus on children , and in honor of the recent holiday honoring Dr . King and Black History Month , we decided to provide a few book suggestions along these lines for our members with children in their lives .
First , what qualities should parents , grandparents , friends , and others look for when selecting children ’ s books that reject harmful stereotypes and promote healthy self-image , emotional wellness , inclusion , and kindness ? Age-appropriate materials that educate children on these topics explicitly do serve an important purpose , opening doors for important discussions about historical events , and helping them to develop resilience , awareness , and empathy .
But it is also critical to offer children exposure to diverse characters in all kinds of storylines . “ Before I started practicing employment law , I was a first-grade teacher and very sensitive to the power
32 January / February 2022