As an agency, Bridgetown Baby is deeply committed to confronting bias within ourselves, building our skills, and creating an inclusive model of care that authentically serves our clients and contributes to culture change. This is work we all can do. It starts with us; it continues with our children - and we are their most important teachers. Each month, we'll be sharing resources for talking with kids about bias, celebrating differences, and actions our families can take to create a world we all can live in.

Have you noticed Christmas carols floating through retail establishments at what seem to be earlier and earlier dates each year? If you have - and likely even if you haven’t - it’s hard to escape the dominance of Christmas in the winter season in the US.

However, looking past Christmas, Kwanzaa is around the corner. Kwanzaa is growing in recognition and as a practice among African American families - by some accounts it is the fastest growing holiday in the world (1). This seven day winter holiday, based on west and southeastern African harvest festival traditions, starts on December 26th and brings a focus on unity, heritage, and community.

The Sound of Kwanzaa leads the reader through the seven principles of Kwanzaa. For families just learning about Kwanzaa, Dimitrea Tokunbo’s lilting prose will engage the youngest of readers in the joy of Kwanzaa. If your family celebrates Kwanzaa, your little readers may see themselves reflected in the bright and alluring illustrations by Lisa Cohen.

Whether you celebrate Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, something else, or nothing at all, we wish you peace as the year draws to a close!

1. https://www.uchealth.org/today/how-to-celebrate-kwanzaa-serene-cultural-holiday/