Teach Me how to books
These eleven children’s books are parts of a series of twenty-seven books to be released intermittently throughout the next few months. They were intently written with young readers in mind, filled with bright, colorful illustrations and fun characters that aim to boost curiosity and incite the joy of reading in the heart of young scholars and their families.
words from author
I am very excited to introduce my children’s books series to all children – everywhere. I am equally delighted to encourage parents, grandparents, family, and community members alike to consistently read to the kids within our communities, churches, and area schools. I intend for these books to travel the world, and for children around the world to see themselves in each story and visualize the world within the story through the colorful pictures. I hope that each parent will teach their children to read as early in their childhood as possible, even during pregnancy, as we open a world of memories and future possibilities to our kids.
I cannot necessarily remember my parents reading for me as a child. But I can vividly remember my mother teaching me how to read daily as far back as I can recall. Shortly in the few weeks of starting kindergarten, I became the teachers’ assistant, thanks to my mom’s steadfastness to teaching me basic reading, writing and math skills. Consequently, the gift of literacy, that I was given in my early childhood, allowed me to learn several foreign languages at an early age and afforded me from an early age opened many doors for me, including access to upper education- degrees in law, finance, accounting, and much more.
As a parent, I emulated my mother and read out loud to my kids during my pregnancy as well as teaching them how to read once they were born. As they grew older, they found reading to be one of their favorite pastimes and became very proficient at it very early on. When we read to our children, we instill in them the love and the joy of reading. Consistent reading improves fluency, increases vocabulary, improves comprehension, turns information into knowledge, and turns readers into leaders.
If we read to our kids early and often – teaching them how to read becomes a much easier task. Children learn by repetition, which is why they want to read that same book over and over again. By the time you read that one book to them for the twelfth time, they have memorized every word and mimic them as you read. Today, it is more important than ever to read to our kids and teach them how to read as early as possible before they encounter outside influences that hinder their reading process. If we start early enough and make reading time a part of their daily schedule, we can get ahead of the technological craze that often consumes their mind such as social media and cell phones.
We have a unique opportunity to make a difference in our children’s lives, especially those from disenfranchised communities who tend to trail behind their peers. These children are impacted by factors that are often seen through political lenses as environment influenced tendencies rather than the lack of a deliberate effort to address literacy at an early stage of their development. We need to work with these children prior to their starting school. This early stage of development will serve as a catalyst to propel them into a life of curiosity and pursuit of knowledge toward a more fulfilling existence.
We often take for granted our ability to read, write, and comprehend; essential skills and tools that allow us to make every decision in our daily lives. Unfortunately, countless individuals worldwide and specifically in the United States spend a lifetime of illiteracy, not being able to reach their full potential, even though free education may be afforded to them. Oftentimes the educational system is substandard in terms of developing these basic skills our children need. In the United States, the penal system is better funded, equipped, and supported than our local educational system. Each year, states allocate up to $6,800 annually to educate a child versus $50,000 annually to imprison an individual.
About This Project
Becoming a children’s book author is a happenstance, by all its definition. It is a gift that I have been given and accepted after a major disappointment during the pandemic. The most significant aspect about disappointments or setbacks is that they provide us with valuable insights about ourselves, and the intent behind our pursuits. When our spirit is in tune, we often recognize disappointments as opportunities to take actions that not only benefit ourselves but society as a whole.
My disappointment stemmed from not succeeding in my campaign, for a local political office, in June 2020. During my moments of silence and introspection for several nights, beyond the election, I was asking the universe, “how can I turn this moment of lament into an extraordinary service to mankind while fighting to rid my heart of resentment and grief?” During that time, through my tears, I tried to convince myself that everything will turn out for the good, because everything always works out for me, over and over. I started to feel lighter as each day passed and ceased to worry about being judged on my failure, to include being judged by those people I thought would have been there for me.
I had moments of animosity from the feeling of rejection by a community that I have given my talents, gifts, times, and energy in the last twenty years to (or at least that’s how I interpreted at the moment). However, that animosity began to subside and I began to understand this matter was greater than a political office, but my highest ideal of the desire to offer the very best of me in service. I could see clearer my purpose, which transcended the need for reciprocation by those that I had supported in the past.
A few days later, as I was expanding my knowledge of my new self through the rebirth of a newfound universal connection – I realized that I would never be the same again. One night, I woke up at around three o’clock in the morning with my heart filled with a new sense of joy, love, and dedication. I pulled my pen and paper and all the children’s book titles flowed from my mind through my hand and unto paper- I was inspired to write books and, above all, children’s books.
One Saturday morning, I sat in one in one spot and wrote the first book, then later on the next and the next. I knew then, there was more my journey than a run for political office or winning the race – I had learned many lessons, through years of advocacy and activism toward juvenile and prison reforms about what needed to be done to enable youth to avoid these outcomes. My years as juvenile court representative/guardian ad litem also helped to inform these views. I learned that we needed more than policy adjustments and amendments, we needed those with a heart of goodwill and for service with a greater focus on prevention through early education and literacy that would provide these youth with greater opportunities to become a valued member of society. Through writing children books I could have a more direct and profound impact on children’s futures than I would have as a politician. This is more than lofty words – this is action in operation.
I have previously written books on various subjects over the years. The writing of each book was an adventure. However I have found that writing children’s books are not only my new found adventure but also my passion and children’s book author, my new title. Thus, on 11/11/2020, I launched the first eleven books of my children’s books series entitled, “Teach me how to books.”
I remember when my kids were toddlers, I often thought about what it would be like to be a children’s book author. Then, the idea quickly became a distant memory due to the difficulties in the book publishing arena. Also, I realized that there was no room in a major publishing house for people like myself – my contribution to such an endeavor would have been futile. Anyone who desired to publish a book ten to fifteen years ago, needed the support of an agent and a publisher. Large publishing firms at the time could not envision an audience for children’s books written by black authors with black characters; in other words, a market for children’s books, with black characters was a far-fetched idea.
Consequently, in the last decade, with the rise of technological advances, Self-publishing has opened a wide range of opportunities to shape such audiences and allows creative people to express themselves through writing and make it available to their own audiences. As the rest of the world becomes freer and more exposed to various cultures with the awareness that we are more alike than different – our eyes are opening to our own biases and prejudices.
We will eventually understand and come to embrace the idea that our differences are only skin deep. What we think about each other is what we have unconsciously inherited from others. Many of these views are a product of ignorance and fear. In the end, we all have the same aspirations – to live purposeful lives, provide our children and create an environment for them to thrive, and become a better version of ourselves than we were before—living with an open consciousness with fewer judgments and criticisms and more tolerance toward each other.
It is my hope that you will purchase a book or the series for the kid or kids in your life – with proceeds donated to our non-profit organization – Community Alliances and Improvements, Inc. This non-profit will provide resources to local schools as well assist underprivileged parents in providing the gift of early childhood literacy. You can purchase our books on this website, or you can also visit us at www.communityalliances.net, harmelcodijd.com, amazon.com and everywhere books are sold
The Books
This first part of the series “teach me how books” has eleven books that starts with “Mommy, Teach me How to Read,” and introduces the first book from the series with a backdrop of the main characters- twins boy and girls, Nina and Marcus. Nina and Marcus are precocious toddlers who want to learn and do everything fast, including reading, writing, counting, etc. along with their parents and extended family, who are undergirding them through their childhood.
The series ends with “Daddy, Teach me How to Ride my Bike,” which reintroduces Clarence, the twins’ dad. After being called to military duty, shortly after their birth, Clarence is now home just in time for their third birthday. He is enjoying his time teaching them all sorts of life skills, including riding their bike, swimming, telling time, tying their shoelaces, etc.
Join us in their adventure as they are mimicking life one book at the time.
- Learning books for kindergarten: Boosting Early Learning. Learn more.
- Kids and Family Reading. Learn more.
- The Power of Baby Books: 10 Best Choices for Early Learning. Learn more.