These kids aren’t quite ready for elementary school yet, but they are getting a head start as they read “The King of Kindergarten” and “The Queen of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes.
“Take the notes of being kind, being a good friend, being respectful,” said Dessa Carroll, who read the books aloud.
Carroll is the founder and executive director of Brown Babies n’ Books. The nonprofit organization centers on diverse stories and maternal wellness.
“I think having safe spaces to celebrate our culture and our stories and create community is so important,” Carroll said.
The mission started almost two years ago. When Carroll found story times and family events for her and her young daughter to attend, she often found a lack of diversity.
“I thought to myself, ‘How can I tell my daughter that she can be anything she wants to be in the world if she’s not seeing it, if she’s not experiencing it?'” Carroll said. “And similar to me, I want to be able to connect with people that have similar experiences and similar cultural background.”
So Carroll organized a story time the following spring.
“It was just very vibrant,” she said. “So that was a huge, like, setting of the tone of what we want our events to be: joyful, educational.”
Brown Babies n’ Books now holds several story times a month. It features diverse characters and authors.
NY1 visited a story time at Jeremiah Program in Brooklyn.
“I think since the rest of our family is white and Carter is Black, it is so important for us to have representation and community, especially,” said Ellen Twaddell.
She was there with her boys, Carter and Maxwell.
The organization also holds activities, like nutrition discussions and arts and crafts, so mothers can take a few precious moments for themselves.
“I think the moms are really the anchor of our village,” Carroll said. “And if we don’t create spaces for the moms to connect with other people, other caregivers, other resources, how can we expect the kids to be well?”
It’s a village where both parents and their little ones can feel seen.
“I truly believe, to leave a legacy behind… our children need to know who they are and why they’re so powerful and brilliant,” Carroll said.
For writing a story of diversity and family, Dessa Carroll is our New Yorker of the Week.