ACEs Wild: Flip the Brain Script on Adverse Childhood Experiences

1-8-18 Update: Important new data on public health problems emerging with kids in this damaging era of immigration anxiety. I see this every week when I tutor at Americorps/Reading Partners and walk on the campus as one of a handful of white people...kids literally freeze as if I'm a fed coming to snatch someone. Not comfy. Glad Newsweek did this feature, but REALLY … [Read more...]

When We Were Free To Be: Revisiting A Classic w/Deesha Philyaw

Dec. 18, 2012 This year marks not only the 40th Anniversary of Title IX changing women’s sports forever, it’s also the 40th Anniversary of the cycle-breaking, movement-making pop culture childrens' classic Free to Be, You and Me created by one of my very first childhood ‘sheroes’ Marlo Thomas. Marlo Thomas’ Free to Be Gold record and '70s era bestseller flipped the script on … [Read more...]

A Mighty Girl: Healthier Media Messaging, One Click Convenience

April 11, 2013 Update: Check out A Mighty Girl pics for Environmental Books and movies for green kidlit and Earth Day 2013!  Dec. 10, 2012 What to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature “Hey!” and some REAL Christmas cheer! A Mighty Girl  holiday story: I’ve written about rampant sexualization and gendered absurdity narrowing choices in the toy aisle many times … [Read more...]

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building Through The Power of Play

Nov. 29, 2012 Kuala Lumpur’s famous Petronas twin towers will now always look like ‘stacking cups’ to me, the Guggenheim Museum in New York upside down stacking rings, and Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium a cozy fort “blankets flung, stretched chair to chair”…As I close the picture book “Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building,” brought to life by author and illustrator Christy … [Read more...]

The Girl Effect Goes Global: International Day of the Girl

Oct. 10, 2014 Update! In just two short years, look at the momentum of the International Day of the Girl and all that's being accomplished with fresh, new voices in the media mix. Congratulations to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. At only 17, Malala is the youngest recipient EVER, and recognizing both a Pakistani and Indian sends an … [Read more...]