A GOOD PLACE TO START SERIES: Strictly No Elephants
Posted: June 17, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment
It’s never too early to start reading and talking to your kiddo about anti-racism and inclusion. Black Lives Matter(!!!), and as a white person I want to be and raise allies. Anti-racism is the goal, and inclusion is a good starting place for babies & toddlers. I consider Strictly No Elephants, written by Lisa Mantchev & illustrated by Taeeun Yoo, to be a new classic, and an excellent example in dealing with topics such as ignorance, prejudice, inclusion, support, and forgiveness, and includes an ethnically diverse cast of characters. The story follows a little boy and his pet 
who are not allowed at Pet Club Day because of an arbitrary “STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS” rule.
The boy meets a young black girl and her pet 
who have also been excluded. The two friends form an all-inclusive club so that their pets, and all pets, can have a fun place to play. And when the children who originally excluded them come around, they welcome them.
So many good lessons about loyalty and standing up for your friends when they are treated unfairly, forming your own support system, and forgiving those who apologize and change. I gifted this to my child even before I gave birth. He is almost 3 now, and feel it is one of the most important books we read, not to mention one of his favorites. Highly recommend! Pick up a curbside copy from @bookpeople if you’re local or refer to my 
@yallbehave Instagram post for list of black-owned bookstores- many are online/ship!
Y'all Behave! 
[…] NO Elephants is especially special because it was also featured as the first book in my A Good Place To Start Series, because of its essential lesson to include everyone, and make spaces that do just that. The […]