This Black American Teacher Wrote An Inspiring Book For Young Boys Who Hates Reading Meet Dr. Kimberlie Harris

Meet the School Teacher Whose New Children’s Book Series Inspires Black Boys to Enjoy Reading

‘I Love a Good Book,’ the first book in the Boys Unboxed series by Dr. Kimberlie Harris, is a diverse children’s book, which shows boys the joy in enjoying books with family members, non-family members, and on their own.

Dr. Kimberlie Harris, author of ‘I Love a Good Book’

Dr. Kimberlie Harris, a veteran elementary school teacher from Macon, Georgia, who has specialized in literacy in schools with high poverty rates, has written I Love a Good Book. Designed to help parents and teachers fight back against the troubling negative reading trends for young Black boys, it is the first book in her Boys Unboxed series.

According to Scholastic’s 2016 Kids and Family Reading Report, 27% of boys (versus 37% of girls) said they read books for fun at least 5 days a week. Forty-five percent of boys (versus only 36% of girls) said they often have trouble finding books they like.
When asked why she wrote the series, Dr. Harris replied, “I wrote this series for all the boys I’ve taught over the past 16 years who hated reading. I wrote it to do something to put an end to all of the book conferences that lead to tears because ‘I don’t like to read or I’m not a good reader.’ I wrote this book for my son and for other young boys, especially African American boys so that they will know that they don’t have to stay inside the sports box. I want them to know that they are free to explore and be so many other things.”

I Love a Good Book is exclusively available on Dr. Harris’ website. Supporters can also choose to donate books for children in need.

She comments, “As a boy mom, I accepted the limited clothing options for my son, but I could not accept the limited book options, especially books with main characters that look like him and that have a wide range of interests and skills.”

Dr. Harris has worked with parents, teachers, and editors to create a book and a series that not only can be used as an educational resource, but that will also be a family favorite, for years to come.

Source: Black news.com

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com