![]() ![]() This one is very special to me – it was the first book I ever read to my grandson and I hope it sparks a love of books, just as I had when I was a child. Riley Can Be Anything is an inspiring picture book that follows a little boy called Riley as he discovers all the wonderful things he is able to do when he grows up. The books we read when we were young we're now introducing to new generations (Photo: FG Trade via Getty Images) Riley Can Be Anything by Davina Hamilton The books we read when we were young we're now introducing to new generations (Photo: FG Trade via Getty Images) Lushly and colourfully illustrated, it’s no wonder this is a favourite of so many. By the time she visits her friend there is only one left – a tangerine – much to the delight of her best friend Akeyo. ![]() On her journey she is met by several animals who proceed to steal the fruit. She walks with a basket of seven fruits to visit her friend in a nearby village. Handa is a little girl who lives in a village in Kenya. I read this picture book many a night to my son when he was younger. My Jamaican dad told me he heard Anansi’s story when he was a young boy just as he was reading it to me. The story originates from Ghana, but has strong links to the Caribbean. It’s a traditional Ashanti tale about a spider who outwits his larger enemies. I remember as a young child sitting, excited, as my dad told me Anansi’s exhilarating story. This was the first book that was ever read to me. Some I cherish for sentimental reasons and nostalgia, others I’ve introduced to the next generations of my family in the hope they will catch a passion for reading and fall in love with them as much as I did. Now, I share them with you. I’ve compiled a list of the books I’ve grown up with and still love today. They shaped my childhood and were arguably my first love. Books by Black authors or foregrounding Black characters made me feel secure and comfortable in my own skin. When I started reading a book, I’d become fearless alongside its characters, and was always their biggest cheerleader when they triumphed over adversity. I loved to read about protagonists with lived experiences I could really relate to. A place where I could comfortably see reflections of myself without prejudice. ![]() From an early age, they were my safe space. Growing up, I was always a bit of a book buff and I was especially drawn to books written by Black authors or those with a strong Black theme. Books we loved and still do (Photo: Amazon / HuffPost) ![]()
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