Saturday by Oge Mora
This lovely story about a mother and daughter is recounted in simple language, with collage illustrations. It is the story of a day that could have ended in utter disappointment, but instead is salvaged by the young daughter’s appreciation for just having been able to have this time with her mom. As well as being a story about the precious love between a mother and a daughter, it is a gentle introduction to the sacredness of time. In these days of Covid, the concept of time often feels fleeting. Our schedules have been disrupted, we have not been able to make regular plans, and for many people, school and work have been relegated to the space of home. The distinction between home and other environments (the outside world) has blurred. Saturday thus seems a timely book to look at what is most important and most meaningful in our lives and in our relationships, especially perhaps the bonds between parent and child.
In terms of being racially conscious, what is important about Oge’s book is, of course, that the characters are Black. As mentioned in the discussion of Angela Johnson’s book (which depicts the relationship between a father and his child), the power of this book lies in the fact that race is deliberately not directly addressed; it is just taken for granted. We are seeing – finally -- an increase in children’s books depicting Black characters. This is, of course, a much-needed corrective addition for Black, indigenous, and people of color families, who for too many years have not been able to access children’s literature depicting characters who look like them. But it is also a gift to white families. It is an opportunity to show white children from a very young age that not all children look like they do, and that there is great diversity in the world.
There are still many places that do not reflect the diversity of the United States. Demographics in the US are shifting rapidly. By 2045, whites will no longer be in the majority, and as of 2020, whites under the age of 18 are already in the minority. Although there are still pockets of the US (including where I live in Boulder, CO) that do not yet reflect this demographic shift, it is essential for white children in the US to grow up racially conscious and racially literate.
Parents: please watch this great 12-minute TED talk on racial literacy by two formidable high school students!
There are so many family stories out there, and Mora importantly depicts the story of a Black mother who works six days a week – note that she does not have a two-day weekend; her only day off to fully spend with her daughter is on Saturday. This should be pointed out to kids, especially those who take it for granted that a weekend is comprised of two full days at home with their parent(s). Focusing on this detail is an opportunity to talk with your kids about the workforce, about your employment, about what it is you do in the hours that you are not with them. It also opens up a discussion about essential workers, ranging from doctors and nurses to grocery store employees, people making deliveries, or bus drivers. Covid days have required that many people work from home, and that many children do long-distance learning. More time at home with our kids can be a truly gratifying experience, but it can also add a great deal of stress to parenting. Mora’s book lets us take a quiet step to appreciate the kindnesses we can exchange with one another, and the gratitude we can express for unexpected moments of joy, even when all our plans fall through. A book like Saturday can help both parents and children find meaning even in the mundane.