OFF THE SHELF
Recommended Films, Fine Reads and Dot-coms
WHAT ARE WE READING + WATCHING? No! My First Book of Protest Cynthia Jones, The Henry Ford’s general manager of innovation experiences, marvels at how this sturdy children’s book from author Julie Merberg and illustrator Molly Egan taps into the fascinating stories of some of the most impactful protest movements and famous activists to teach kids about social action. I remember sitting on my mom’s lap reading my childhood favorite, Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle. Today, I appreciate how books for the youngest readers distill complex stories into compelling images and clear, action-oriented ideas. My latest read is No! My First Book of Protest. Little ones will enjoy saying “No, No!” with each activist. They will learn that a “No!” followed up with collective action can change the world. Many social innovators featured on these pages have a home in our collections, programs and exhibits, including Frederick Douglass, Alice Paul and Rosa Parks. Judith Heumann, a disability rights activist, is someone I knew less about and was glad to discover. Greta Thunberg influenced some of our recent collecting, including signs made by students for the climate marches of 2019-2020. I hope all of us take this book’s message to heart: “Great people made big changes when they said ‘No, No!’ Someday you can protest too (when you’ve had time to grow).”
“MANY SOCIAL INNOVATORS FEATURED ON THESE PAGES HAVE A HOME IN OUR COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS, INCLUDING FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ALICE PAUL AND ROSA PARKS.” —C YNTHIA JONES, GENERAL MANAGER, INNOVATION EXPERIENCES, THE HENRY FORD
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JANUARY-MAY 2021
ONLINE Watch the calendar of events for The Henry Ford’s PNC Tinkering for Tots preschool program in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. According to general manager Cynthia Jones, No! My First Book of Protest could become a pick for a storyteller book reading during an upcoming Tinkering for Tots program thf.org/eventsc
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Other children’s books that The Henry Ford’s Cynthia Jones said help get to the core of how we as a society are thinking about, working toward and shaping the future: Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi and A Is for Activist by Innosanto Nagarac