School is over, the cold weather breaks, summer arrives and everything returns to life. June is also Pride month, a time to celebrate the richness that the LGBTQIA+ community brings to our culture. June also means the continuance of a very special Akron bicentennial: the city’s 200th birthday!
Where do I find good books to read with my kids so they don’t lose the academic progress they’ve made? How do I learn about a city with such a complex, gritty history?
Books are always a great place. But where do I start, and with whom?
While I am, of course, only one person, and I have not read every book out there (though that is the goal), I hope to provide some groundwork. Think of it as a connect-the-dots drawing. The books are the dots, and how you connect them, the picture you find in the end, is all up to you.
Here are some books to read out loud with your kids this summer, books that can introduce and explain the spunky, uniquely beautiful city of Akron and books to help you celebrate Pride month, learn about its origins and honor the talented artists who make up this community.
Books to read with your kids
- “The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Imaginary Friend” by Dan Santat
Have you ever wondered where imaginary friends come from? We are the ones who think them up, but what happens before we do? Enter Beekle, an imaginary friend just waiting to be chosen and meet his new best friend. As time passes, and all of Beekle’s friends are imagined, Beekle grows impatient and decides to do the unthinkable: enter the real world on his own and find his new friend.
Filled with vibrant illustrations and even more larger-than-life characters, this book is perfect for conversations about friendship, dreaming and not waiting for someone else to determine who you are.
Suggested Reading
- “The Day the Crayons Quit” written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
When Duncan opens his crayon box, he finds only complaints from his colorful friends. White is tired of not being used while Red is worn out from the constant usage, and so on. Somehow, Duncan must find a way to make everyone happy so his crayons return to him.
Full of humor, this book is a great pathway into discussing creativity and how we can alter our expectations and imagine new possibilities. Plus, the Akron Art Museum has a great interactive exhibit that features this book and others illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
Books to celebrate Akron’s bicentennial
- “The Hard Way on Purpose” by David Giffels
There are some writers out there who write about a place so accurately, so carefully, that their identity becomes intertwined with that place. This is how most would describe Giffels and the city of Akron — because of this book. In this collection of essays, Giffels leaves no piece of gravel unturned. He discusses the harsh reality of being an Ohio sports fan, Akron’s role in the music scene, Akron being the birthplace of the hamburger and his journey to prove this, and what it’s like to hail from a city that remains hopeful and resilient no matter what is thrown its way.
- “Light Enters the Grove: Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park Through Poetry” ed. by Charles Malone, Carrie George and Jason Harris
While Akron is historically known for rubber and its place in the Rust Belt, tucked behind these industrial structures is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Cuyahoga River, which runs through this park, is what Moses Warren ascended from when surveying what would be modern day Akron. What’s more magical than the fact we have a national park so close to us is the range of species and plant life that call the park home. This collection, which spotlights the talents of local writers, highlights the beauty and wonder in our park.
Books celebrating Pride month in Akron
- “The Stonewall Reader” ed. by New York Public Library
This collection of essays, transcribed interviews and firsthand narratives chronicles the Stonewall Riots, considered a turning point in the gay liberation movement. With pieces from Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson and other known and lesser known figures, this comprehensive anthology chronicles the events leading up to June 28, 1969, the riots themselves and the aftermath of days of demonstrations and other confrontations.
- “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong
Anyone who knows me knows that it’s hard for me to not mention Ocean Vuong when discussing brilliant writers who write about queerness so seamlessly and with such poetic language. This book is a letter from the narrator — who goes by the name of Little Dog — to his dying mother. While queerness is definitely central, this book also touches on grief, the author’s experience as a Vietnamese-American and finding joy in survival.
Editor’s note: David Giffels is a member of Signal Akron’s Local Advisory Board.
