Jump at the Sun

The Jump at the Sun Book Drive is a grassroots, community collaborative initiative among Action4Equity, Bookmarks, Triad Cultural Arts, Read Write Spell, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter, and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.


W I S H  L I S T
To purchase books from the Jump at the Sun wishlist, click here


Community conversations at the More Than A Month event and within the ongoing campaign for a mandatory African American History course ignited a community-wide call to examine the history and social studies curriculums currently being taught to WS/FCS students. While the program for K-12 curriculum infusion has been ongoing for 28 years, recent community push for equity and representation in curriculum led to WS/FCS implementing “K-12 Cultural Infusion Project” in 2019. 

When WS/FCS parents and educators began conversations around curriculum infusion years ago, they quickly agreed that implicit bias and stigmatization are embedded in our current Euro-centric social studies curriculum and it falls short of building a critical background and knowledge base for students. Evidence shows that culturally competent education and curriculums may be the hidden key to educational excellence as well as developing social-emotional skills for students of all ages; a 2016 Stanford University study confirmed that ethnic studies classes in schools raised attendance, grades and high school credits.

If we’re ever going to achieve racial equity we must first unpack the stories of how we arrived here.  At the core, Jump at the Sun is a celebration and the ongoing beautiful struggle to realize democracy.  We believe every child will benefit from an educational system rooted in truth; one willing to teach every aspect of our national history.

​We know that structural racism endures as a result of a veiled understanding of who we are.  Racist policies, practices, attitudes, biases and messages continues to be a barrier from us achieving our best.  

Now is the time to provide something different!  

We invite you to join us as we authentically work to make equity in education a strategic imperative when it comes to educating the whole child in Winston-Salem / Forsyth County and empower them to Jump At The Sun.

To learn more, click here

Carter Reads the Newspaper: The Story of Carter G. Woodson, Founder of Black History Month By Deborah Hopkinson, Don Tate (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Deborah Hopkinson, Don Tate (Illustrator)
$8.99
Unavailable in store; contact staff@bookmarksnc.org to check price and order availability
ISBN: 9781682633328
Published: Peachtree - August 3rd, 2021

Essential Black History Reading

The first-ever picture book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History Month

Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Honor Book), NCSS
Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
Top 10 Books for Kids ―New York Public Library


We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know By Traci Sorell, Frane Lessac (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Traci Sorell, Frane Lessac (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781623541927
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Charlesbridge - April 20th, 2021

A 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Book
A 2022 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Twelve Native American kids present historical and contemporary laws, policies, struggles, and victories in Native life, each with a powerful refrain: We are still here!


Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez By Larry Dane Brimner, Maya Gonzalez (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Larry Dane Brimner, Maya Gonzalez (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781684371952
Availability: For availability, email staff@bookmarksnc.org
Published: Calkins Creek - September 14th, 2021

This important yet little-known civil rights story focuses on Roberto Alvarez, a student whose 1931 court battle against racism and school segregation in Lemon Grove, California, is considered the first time an immigrant community used the courts to successfully fight injustice. A must-read for young activists, or for anyone interested in standing up for what's right.


The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family By Ibtihaj Muhammad, Hatem Aly (Illustrator), S. K. Ali (With) Cover Image
By Ibtihaj Muhammad, Hatem Aly (Illustrator), S. K. Ali (With)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316519007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - September 10th, 2019

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!   A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

And don’t miss The Kindest Red, a story of hijab and friendship, available for preorder now!


Islandborn By Junot Díaz, Leo Espinosa (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Junot Díaz, Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780735229860
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dial Books - March 13th, 2018

From New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz comes a debut picture book about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination.

A 2019 Pura Belpré Honor Book for Illustration
 
Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else.
Hers was a school of faraway places.
 


Four Feet, Two Sandals By Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, Doug Chayka (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780802852960
Availability: Available to order; typically arrives at Bookmarks in 5-10 days
Published: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers - September 1st, 2007

When relief workers bring used clothing to the refugee camp, everyone scrambles to grab whatever they can. Ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly, until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one.