Learning to Inspire and Teach Kids
Representation in Reading
Words by Sam Lauron photos by Eric Morales
As both a teacher and a mother to a young son, Porsha Hodge understands the important role reading plays in a child’s development. But what she’s also discovered in both of her roles is the massive gap in the children’s book space: books featuring children of color.
The problem is not necessarily that books focused on children of color aren’t being published. “There are actually quite a few,” Porsha notes, but as she began reading with her son, she realized that diverse books are not as easily accessible as books featuring white children.
“I used to walk around the children’s section at bookstores and pull out all of the books that had children of color on the cover,” she recalls. “And then I would sit around and read those books with my son.” Struck with the realization that she also didn’t have access to books featuring kids of color when she was growing up, Porsha was determined to give her son a different experience so he could “make more of a connection with representation” early on in life.
Porsha began to write her own children’s book titled Cocoa Delight and Her Chocolate Chip Tears as a way to help bridge the gap and contribute her own piece to the narrative. In the process, however, she realized there was an opportunity to create a platform for books that represent diversity like hers: one that encompasses everything for which Porsha is passionate.
L.I.T. Kids—which stands for Learning to Inspire and Teach—is an educational platform that focuses on providing children with diverse books and learning opportunities. As part of their initiative, L.I.T. Kids offers a monthly book box that includes 2-3 books featuring children of color, one educational tool, and one fun activity. The boxes are geared toward children ages birth to 8 and are available as a one-time purchase or a monthly subscription.
Aside from providing educational opportunities for children, Porsha also hopes that L.I.T. Kids can serve as a platform for Black self-published authors. As a self-published author herself, Porsha is keenly aware of the obstacles one faces when trying to get their book in as many hands as possible. She hopes to provide more opportunity to authors who are seeking exposure by encouraging them to send their book to L.I.T. Kids for review to potentially be included as the featured book of the month.
“I read every book to my son, so he’s kind of like the book reviewer,” she laughs.
Though L.I.T. Kids is just getting started, Porsha already has big goals for the business. To achieve her mission of providing literacy development through representation, she wants to reach children all over the world. “I want to make this as nationwide, or even as worldwide, as possible so more kids will have access to books of color in their home.”
Cocoa Delight and Her Chocolate Chip Tears
Porsha’s first book—which she self-published this month—is about compassion, self-love, and self-identity, specifically when it comes to Black girls and their natural hair. “Everybody is different,” she states. “But there’s beauty in embracing and celebrating those differences and just showing yourself love.”
Contact:
litkidsbooks.com
IG: @l.i.t.kids
FB: @LitLoveLearn
litlovelearn@gmail.com
