A perfect book for everyone wanting to expand their education and the education of those around them! I wanted to read Soul School to expand my child's curriculum; I quickly realized I needed Soul School for my own education first. Amber eloquently outlines ideas, thoughts, concepts that I've known were missing without being able to clearly explain it to someone. In chapter 3, she lays out a historical timeline that is very different from education about black history that I received (which was: slavery then civil rights). Her booklists are thoughtfully curated and readily available. She provides questions to help guide your reading and learning and encourages critical thinking for all readers. If you are a lifelong learner or raising a lifelong learner this book is for you!

Amber is a respected leader in the homeschool community, deservedly so. She is passionate about encouraging all families to expand their views of what makes an education complete. She is always ready with a book recommendation, especially one that features well-developed Black main characters written by Black authors. She is gracious & patient in sharing her knowledge with others. She is also strong in her faith & filters all of this through the lens of Biblical truth. This book brings all of these things together. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to bring more diverse books into their home library. You don't have to be a homeschool mom (like Amber) to do this. You can just be a parent that recognizes the importance of providing a better education for your child than you received. She walks you through the reasoning behind what she does & then she lists dozens of books that she has personally vetted for kids of all ages.

This book was something I've needed as a parent many years ago. I'm so happy to have it and to be able to teach my daughter with text that she can engage with and relate to the characters and circumstances.

Soul School is the well-written answer to the question "why are Black books so important?" Amber fully addresses the matter by masterfully breaking down the various aspects of Black culture, explaining how each aspect contributes to the Black experience, and emphasizing the importance of elevating Black stories and voices. The highlight is the curated list of books (categorized by age group) that celebrate the music, art, stories, and traditions that make up Black culture. While the book is absolutely for everyone, it is truly a must have for anyone looking to give Black children, of all ages, the mirrors they need to feel seen and proud of their heritage. It is a must have for anyone looking to diversify their children's exposure to Black culture. In fact, it is truly a must have for anyone who doesn't understand the need to do so.

A must read for anyone that would like to diversify their child’s reading. This book provides lots of resources for increasing awareness of Black culture and many useful book suggestions and ideas.

If you are a parent, educator, or in any way interact with the young people of today - get yourself a copy of this book! In a thorough, honest, concise, and conversational way, Johnston has crafted a resource that makes thoughtful book purchases and library trips as simple as possible. As a white parent raising white children, resources such as Soul School are immensely helpful to me in prioritizing culturally diverse and relevant texts that children will actually enjoy. I especially appreciate Johnston's brief descriptions of each book and "second helpings" for additional study, as well as the different indices included. I had the immense honor of being given a copy of this book for review and it did not disappoint. I have already procured copies of books recommended within Soul School and look forward to continuing to use this resource as my children grow.

It is truly evident that the author has poured so much of her own soul into this book and I'm so grateful for her gifting herself to us in this way.

I am so thankful to have Soul School!

Soul School contains a feast! Stories of family and community, of parents and children, aunties and uncles, friends and cousins, told in fiction and non fiction, in poetry and prose, about science and nature and living, set in this world and in fantasy. The author has read every book she recommends (360!) and provided detailed information for 120 of the books, including why the book was chosen.

Soul School gives book ideas for children of all ages, books set in many time periods and places, with influences of Africa, America, the Caribbean, and the rest of the diaspora. Books written by Black authors that communicate culture – complex relationships, joy, laughter, growth, and trials.

This resource will be valuable for all people who interact with children.

#soulschoolbook

This book has been a breath of fresh air! I love the depth of how culture is being shared. I can't wait to dive into the plethora of books that the author has shared for our children. I think this book was the missing piece to our book shelf! It's one that we will pass on from generation to generation! Bravo to the author!!!