Julius Lester

Lester, J. (2008). Let's talk about race. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

I enjoyed reading this story for a number of reasons. The front cover is appeal and the statement on the front cover peaked my interest about the book. The illustrator Karen Barbour accompanied the inspirational words of Lester with vibrant paintings.

I have always enjoyed reading books of various cultures. When I was in elementary school, I did not have the opportunity to read multicultural literature of this nature. Every chance that I get, I read multicultural literature to my students. This exposure can create student's that are culturally sensitive , as well as, appreciative of their own.

Other books by Julius Lester include John Henry, Pharaoh's Daughter: A Novel of Ancient Egypt, and To Be A Slave all have multicultural values. Let's Talk About Race attempts to show how we are more alike than different. "We write because our lives are stories," should be emphasized to children, because everyone has a unique story.

The one most idea that I took from this book was that our lives are full of stories. Oftentimes, children say that they have nothing to write about, without understanding that they have a lifetime of stories to share with others. This maybe the book that will inspire and encourage children to tell their own stories and to understand that their story's are unique and important.