Miss Viola and Uncle Ed Lee

by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrated by Catherine Stock

Source

Wes found this one at our local library too.  We were really taken with the story.  It was very cute and anyone who has a somewhat irascible, loveable, and relaxed-to-the-point-of-lazy uncle would know exactly what I mean.  There is also a hint of old-fashioned courtship that was very sweet as well and definitely worthwhile to impart to a perpetually grubby little boy.  The artwork, as you can see from the cover, was also beautiful.

The Kid had the added bonus of having Grandpa read it to him so he was very thrilled about that.  We will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

An oldie but still a goodie.

Source

We checked this out for the Kid from the public library.  Wes and I have fond memories of this book courtesy of a childhood spent with the much beloved Reading Rainbow.*

Wes came across this book on the shelf by accident.  It really is not easy to go into libraries or bookstores and find books that feature Africans or African Americans unless you just know precisely what you are looking for.  Needless to say, we were both very excited about it.

The Kid was kind of meh.

I KNOW right!?

Anyway, he finally consented to the reading of the book and just to make sure it made the right impression, I sprinkled on a little of the delicious crack that is James Earl Jone's hypnotic voice the next day.

*If you refuse to watch Power Rangers like I do, whole episodes of this show are on YouTube.