Newton-based picture book program promotes anti-racist values

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“It’s dangerous for children,” Ax said. “We need to help our children develop the skills to understand the differences. “

The program, which runs virtually through Zoom, provides families with a set of books, guided prompts and family activities to help parents start and deepen conversations about family running. Ax took over the project from founder Joslyne Decker, who started Story Starters in 2017 after starting a similar program at her daughter’s school.

“She noticed that the classrooms were having conversations and developing skills on anti-bias work, but parents needed more support,” Ax said.

At the launch event, Grace Lin, a Taiwanese American children’s writer and illustrator, read her book “A Big Moon Cake for a Little Star” aloud in a crowded Zoom Room.

Susan Paley, vice president of community relations at The Village Bank and longtime Newton resident, said that as a sponsor of the program, the bank donates money “so families don’t have to buy books”.

“The messages of the books chosen by Ellie and her loved ones are designed to create a kind of harmony,” said Paley.

“I see this as a real win-win for the community because of the fact that we not only help with early literacy, but we also help make our community kinder and more respectful,” said Paley.

Anthony Deighton, father of 7-year-old twins, said he enrolled his two daughters in the program in the summer of 2020.

“The program, in a way, is very disarming because it uses a very calm and comfortable construction – reading books – to tackle a very difficult subject,” he said. “It starts a dialogue that moves and changes minds and educates people in a very powerful way.”

During the summer of 2020 and following the murder of George Floyd, Ax said Story Starters saw an increase in the number of families signing up for the program.

“Within two weeks, 97 families from 14 states were registered,” Ax said.

Newton resident Melanie Conroy enrolled her 7-year-old daughter in the program in January 2020 and enrolled her youngest daughter in the current fall 2021 cohort.

Conroy said Story Starters, in addition to having a diverse library, gave her children the tools to understand their differences outside of their school curriculum, where she said they only read African stories. American stories told from a historical point of view.

“I was noticing back home that a lot of our conversations were based on things like ‘Oh wow I should have gotten in the back of the bus’ or things like that,” she said.

Conroy said it was important that his children not only see themselves as “part of a larger historical lesson, but as individuals with their own stories to tell.”

“It is so essential that they see themselves as protagonists, worthy of having their story told and their history shared, and their history celebrated by a group of people, not just themselves,” said Conroy.

For families interested in learning more, the Story Starters’ Winter 2022 program begins practically January 30 at 4 p.m. Guest speakers are expected to include New York Times bestselling author Grace Lin and Dr. Howard Stevenson, executive director of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative, a center helping to promote racial literacy in schools and neighborhoods.

Chika Okoye can be contacted at [email protected].

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