Welcome to Litsy!

How amazing these words are that slowly come to me.
How wonderfully on and on they go.

Will the words end, I ask
whenever I remember to.

Nope, my sister says, all of five years old now,
and promising me

infinity.

—from “the beginning”
by Jacqueline Woodson

Belated review—I finished this before the #bookfitnesschallenge & loved it. It‘s an autobiographical novel in verse—gorgeously written. I loved the choice of genre for the content—the poetry lends itself well to a series of vignettes, both memories & reflections in verse. I loved seeing hints of the young writer in her childhood, as she grew in understanding her family, herself, the world, & her dreams—from the South to Brooklyn in the 60s & 70s.

I was browsing for a new audiobook for my commute, and this was immediately available on Libby, so I decided to switch up my poetry selection for the month! I‘m excited to start this one today. Has anyone else read this on audio? What did you think?

I really enjoyed this glimpse of the author‘s early life story in poetic form. This was a deviation from my preferred genres and I loved it!

I seem to be in the minority when it comes to this book, but it just didn‘t grab me. I should have loved it, as I love novels/memoirs in verse and short snapshots/vignettes of a life – yet these factors did not work well together in Brown Girl Dreaming. I listened to this on audio, so perhaps the format choice impacted my enjoyment, but overall, I was bored and struggled to finish the book.

Thank you so much Rachel! I read a couple of Woodson‘s books in the past year or so and have been wanting to read more. This arrived on a day that I really needed a pick me up so I greatly appreciate it. You are awesome!

“At the fabric store, we are not Colored or Negro. We are not thieves for shameful or something to be hidden away. At the fabric store, we‘re just people.”

I love how real and authentic this book is. It‘s a great nook to have to encourage discussions about diversity, the Civil Rights Movement, and much more.

This story tells the true story of the author growing up during the Civil Rights Movement in Ohio. This is a great book to have on hand, especially in an Ohio classroom, to kids so that they can see what others went through before them. The struggles the author goes through are still relatable to present day life.

In the Coretta Scott king award winner novel by Jaqueline Woodson is a 2014 adolescent novel told in verse by Woodson. It discusses the author‘s childhood and an African American growing up in the 1960s in South Carolina and New York. The poetry/ auto-biography shows what it was like to live in Times back then and really tests students background and prop knowledge to make in-text to real life connections. The UDL principle is 3.1

National Book Award author Jaqueline Woodson wrote Brown Girl Dreaming, and won many more awards for it! This P book is written is verses to tell Woodson‘s autobiography of growing up as an African American in the 1960s throughout New York and South Carolina. Have students read this as an IR when they need some inspiration! #LAE3414sp19

#lae3414sp19 “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson is an autobiography that won the Sibert Award. The interesting part about this book is that although it is a biography, it is also written in the form of a poem. In this book Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960‘s. This book not only sheds light on the Civil Rights Movement but also shares a touching story of a child finding her place in the world.

Brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is a biography written in the form of poetry that won the Sibert award. This story follows the life of the author, Woodson, as she grew up in South Carolina and then moved to New York. She explains how she never felt at home and what it feels like to grow up as an African-American in the 60s and 70s. The poems are very heart wrenching and powerful and are displayed in vivid poems.

This nonfiction Newberry award winning book would be used for a literature circle in my classroom. Jacqueline Woods shares what it was like to grow up as an African-American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crowe and her growing awareness of the civil rights movement. Each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, also reflecting her joy of finding her voice through writing stories. #lae3414sp19

“Brown Girl Dreaming” (P) by Jacqueline Woodson is a Newberry Award winner book and a must read. Each page will have you wanting more and more. The poems are beautiful and well put together. My favorite in particular is “Second daughter second day on earth”. In this book Jacqueline shares her personal experiences growing up African American during the 1960‘s and 1970‘s. #lae3414sp19

Wow! So good hearing Jacqueline Woodson speak to our elementary school kiddos today!!! ❤️🤓

Everyone needs to drop everything and read Brown Girl Dreaming! Brown Girl Dreaming is Jacqueline Woodson‘s memoir. It is so interesting to see how her past experiences has shaped her writing. I loved reading her B. Since Jacqueline Woodson wrote this book about herself, this would be the perfect book for an AS. #LAE3414SP19

That time I met Jacqueline Woodson
#fangirl
#geekingout
#justactnormal

I read this over the weekend for the #24b4Monday readathon. It‘s quick, beautifully written and may help white people understand some of the racism that brown people must endure. Highly recommend for middle school and up. #BlackHistoryMonth 5 ⭐️

I have finished three books and made great progress on two others. Off to bed so that tomorrow I can finish the tagged book and one more. #24b4monday.

Amazing book. #blackhistorymonth #24b4monday

This is a powerful memoir which demonstrates Woodson‘s skill as a writer. Told in verse, these vignettes of Woodson‘s childhood in the Civil Rights Era, in both South Carolina and New York, all feel authentic. Her voice in this text is both real and accessible. As with much literature for a younger audience (and knowing I‘m not the intended reader), I left this wishing there was a bit more in it. An excellent and worthy read.

Back at work on #readharder2019 . A Children‘s or Middle Grade book that has won a Diversity award since 2009.

I loved this free verse book. I loved learning about the authors childhood growing up in the 60's. Beautifully written.

I am born brown-skinned, black-haired and wide-eyed.

Absolutely beautiful. Jacqueline Woodson writes a memoir of her early childhood, growing up in the early 1960s between Brooklyn and South Carolina, friends, family, the Kingdom Hall, civil rights, listening and becoming a writer. Written in verse, with not a word out of place. And if you can get the audio, do! All the 🌟💕🌟!

#booked2019 #diversemiddlegrade #nonfiction2019 #OnTBROver1Year #readingwomenchallenge2019 #BoughtorBorrowedin2019

Here are some of my favorite books by black authors. #blackhistorymonth
My goal this Black History month is to read as many titles by black authors as possible. Suggestions are welcome.
#blitsy

“On the bus, my mother moves with us to the back. It is 1963 in South Carolina. Too dangerous to sit closer to the front and dare the driver to make her move. Not with us. Not now. Me in her arms all three months old. My sister and brother squeezed into the seat beside her. White shirt, tie, and my brother‘s head shaved clean. My sister‘s braids white ribboned.” Feel history through eyes, heart, and words.

A drizzly #litsywalkers walk to the gym & back this morning. Here‘s Shaldon from across the river. Back home before the weather turns icy, as is promised for later.

A dandelion clock, because JW was talking about them just as I walked past. (Have I mentioned how wonderful this audiobook is?)

And a 99% trophy because I‘ll probably forget to snap it when I reach 100! I set myself a target of walking 50 miles this month, and I‘m just 0.4 off.

I am born as the south explodes,
too many people too many years
enslaved then emancipated
but not free, the people
who look like me
keep fighting
and marching
and getting killed
so that today?
February Twelfth Nineteen Sixty-three
and every day from this moment on,
brown children, like me, can grow up
free. Can grow up
learning and voting and walking and riding
wherever we want.

#imhere #musicalnewyear

Just wonderful. Only 1 hr left 🙁.

A gorgeous afternoon, apart from that big dark cloud there, and I got in 2.5 miles for #litsywalkers.

And started a new audiobook. I‘ve subscribed to Scribd for a couple of months, to get my hands on some of the audiobooks I can‘t get elsewhere (not sure about ebooks. Think I‘d have to read on my phone or laptop, & both of those are a bit rubbish). This audio, though, is worth a month‘s sub all on its own ❤️

A poignant and moving story of the authors life growing up in the time of the civil rights movement. Told in verse her words paint a picture that you can grasp with your hands and pull near. She breathes life into her own memories and then gives them to readers as the gift they are.

Excellent!

Based on a post by @silentrequiem last week and inspired by a picture posted by @Joyfulmimi the other day, I picked up this #DiverseMiddleGrade book today. It was fantastic. Jacqueline Woodson is my superhero - what a gift to write such a moving autobiography with the simplest words but most compelling manner. Told in verse, Jacqueline traces her family‘s roots both midwestern & southern crossing and weaving until arriving in Brooklyn. Beautiful

WOW. Just... WOW.
ALL the stars for this amazing memoir of growing up told in verse.

I picked this up to flip through and next thing I know, I'm 50 pages in. #catsoflitsy

This was great on audio!

“[...] and then there was only a roaring in the air around her, a new pain where once there wasn‘t pain, a hollowness where only minutes before, she had been whole.”

This book was an assignment for my Children‘s Lit class. Normally I‘m not a fan of poetry but I LOVED this book.

My wife just finished this book as part of her Children‘s Lit class and now I‘m starting it so we can discuss it with each other. Bring on the engaging book conversations!
If you would like to be part of the conversation please visit us at:
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#athinsliceofanxiety #browngirldreaming #childrensliterature #jacquelinewoodson #husbandwifeteam #college #marriedbookclub

Memoir written in verse. Could quote every poem on every page. Simply lovely.

#poetry #poetry2018 #memoir #poc #blackauthor #authorofcolor

An autobiography in prose...it was just a beautiful book.

Why it‘s so important to have diverse books in every classroom and library!!! This book is blowing my mind. #teachersoflitsy

An autobiography told in free verse, this was a beautiful tribute to Woodson‘s family and past. She touches on her family‘s history, growing up in the South and NYC, the Civil Rights movement, discovering her talent and so much more. I‘m not much for poetry, but I gobbled this up. Highly recommend. Thank you @PatriciaU for choosing this for #LGPOG!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

#canrelate #LGPOG 💜📚💜

In answer to your question is that I already owned one book in all the ones you sent, but ONLY because I received it in another #makerswap. And now I have the pretty cover and the hardcover. 😁

Plus all these titles from my TBR. I am spoiled!!!!

And I now have a reason to read Love and gelato.

I like memoirs in general, but the verse made this even more interesting. Some of the lines or poems were so lovely or poignant that I just wanted to savor the thoughts expressed within them. I also took it slow because I'm not a poetry reader and needed time to digest some of it. This meant I appreciated the poetry but sometimes lost track of the story. Reading it and focusing on the memoir will probably be a future project. Interesting though!

Reading = Hope X Change
-Jacqueline Woodson

Lucky me, I get a brief cuddle session with books and tea before work. 🐱💕. Life is pretty sweet.
#FroedrickAndIgor

Late to the party here, but I really loved this YA memoir in verse. I wanted to savor the writing.