By Alexandra Yeboah
The Caribbean is made up of many diverse and vibrant cultures, each with their own traditions, music, dishes, festivals and influences. In the region alone, there are people of African, European, Indigenous, Asian, and Middle Eastern decent. Here in Canada, we celebrate the rich heritage of Caribbeans in October, where we are granted the opportunity to learn more about their history, and overall influence in the country. Beyond the contributions of Caribbean Canadians lies a treasured tradition: storytelling. Across generations, Caribbean tales have woven narratives of folklore, family and community in multifaceted ways.
The books selected for this month’s challenge showcase the rich tapestry of storytelling that has transcended across generations. Some explore the importance of Black lives like Bahamian Canadian author Khodi Dill. Some explore ancestral traditions like Guyanese Canadian author Natasha Deen. Some dedicate their book to the delicious mango like Jamaican Canadian author Sadé Smith. Some even edit a non-fiction anthology like Jamaican Canadian author Nadia L. Hohn about racialized authors on food and racism which features a few Caribbean authors: Janice Lynn Mathers (Bahamian Canadian), Natasha Deen (Guyanese Canadian) and American author Hasani Claxton (St. Kitts).
Both you and your children will find yourself enriched as you flip through the vivid pages of these delightful and stirring tales. You’ll be far from disappointed.
1) The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad by Natasha Deen (Young Adult)
From award-winning, #OwnVoices author Natasha Deen comes a new funny, honest, YA novel following one girl as she tries to win over her crush before she leaves for college.
Let’s be clear. No matter what her older brother, Robby, says, aspiring screenwriter Tuna Rashad is not “stupidstitious.” She is, however, cool with her Caribbean heritage, which means she is always on the lookout for messages from loved ones who have passed on. But ever since Robby became a widower, all he does is hang out at the house, mock Tuna for following in their ancestors’ traditions, and meddle in her life.
Tuna needs to break free from her brother’s loving but over-bearing ways and get him a life (or at least, get him out of hers!). Based on the signs, her ancestors are on board. They also seem to be on board with helping Tuna win over her crush, Tristan Dangerfield. The only hiccup? She has to do it before leaving for college in the fall. A ticking clock, a grief-stricken brother, and a crush who doesn’t believe in signs. What could possibly go wrong?
2) The Antiracist Kitchen edited by Nadia L. Hohn and illustrated by Roza Nozari (Middle Grade)
An anthology featuring stories and recipes from racialized authors about food, culture and resistance.
What if talking about racism was as easy as baking a cake, frying plantains or cooking rice? The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) is a celebration of food, family, activism and resistance in the face of racism. In this anthology featuring stories and recipes from 21 diverse and award-winning North American children’s authors, the authors share the role of food in their lives and how it has helped fight discrimination, reclaim culture and celebrate people with different backgrounds. They bring personal and sometimes difficult experiences growing up as racialized people. Chopped, seared, marinated and stewed, The Antiracist Kitchen highlights the power of sitting down to share a meal and how that simple act can help bring us all together.
Featuring recipes and stories from S.K. Ali, Bryan Patrick Avery, Ruth Behar, Marty Chan, Ann Yu-Kyung Choi, Hasani Claxton, Natasha Deen, Reyna Grande, Deidre Havrelock, Jennifer de Leon, Andrea J. Loney, Janice Lynn Mather, Linda Sue Park, Danny Ramadan, Sarah Raughley, Waubgeshig Rice, Rahma Rodaah, Andrea Rogers, Simran Jeet Singh, Ayelet Tsabari and Susan Yoon.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
3) Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith and illustrated by Sayada Ramdial (Picture Book)
Coupled with Sayada Ramdial’s bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling—and craving a mango of their own!
Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack.
But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favourite treat?
4) Little Black Lives Matter by Khodi Dill and illustrated by Chelsea Charles (Board Book)
An inspiring, life-affirming debut activist board book in rhyming couplets and triplets about Black heroes for little ones, their families, and anyone who loves A is for Activist and Antiracist Baby.
Little Black Lives Matter empowers all children, but Black children especially, by affirming that their lives, however little they may yet be, matter. Featuring fifteen great Black heroes of the past and the powerful words they spoke and actions they took, Little Black Lives Matter is a rhyming board book that incorporates memorable quotations and a reminder to little ones that each of these great people once lived a little Black life themselves. From Harriet Tubman and Malcolm X to other inspiring freedom fighters like Marsha P. Johnson, Fred Hampton, and Frederick Douglass, writers James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and Maya Angelou, musical artists Billie Holiday and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, athletes Wilma Rudolph, Jesse Owens, and Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., this little book encourages young readers to find their inner heroes and see their own self-worth and agency through the acts of great Black heroes who came before them.
Ardo Omer