Saturday Magic: Celebrating Ancestral Wisdom and Black Spirituality in Children's Literature with Nyasha Williams and Kenda Bell-Spruill

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Nyasha Williams and Kenda Bell-Spruill, co-authors of Saturday Magic: A Hoodoo Story (Running Press Kids). This mother-in-love and daughter-in-love duo discuss their collaboration on this groundbreaking picture book that introduces young readers to African diasporic spiritual practices and ancestral connections.

Discover the inspiration behind their story, the importance of representation in children's literature, and how Saturday Magic aims to foster pride in cultural heritage. The authors share personal insights into their creative process, the significance of dreams in African American culture, and their hopes for expanding diverse narratives in children's media.

This episode offers a deep dive into the power of intergenerational storytelling and the magic of connecting with one's ancestors, providing valuable perspectives for parents, educators, and anyone interested in diverse children's literature.

Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Order Copies: Saturday Magic on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Resources:

• Visit Nyasha Williams online: https://www.nyashawilliams.online
• Visit Kenda Bell online: https://pensight.com/x/kendabell
• Subscribe to Nyasha's Substack: https://nyashawilliams.substack.com/
• Support Nyasha's vision for Fire + Honey Press: https://www.gofundme.com/f/revolutionizing-publishing-fire-honey-press
• How Watermelons Became a Racist Trope: https://nyashawilliams.substack.com/p/how-watermelons-became-a-racist-trope
• Grandma Rose's Watermelon Salad: https://nyashawilliams.substack.com/p/grandma-roses-watermelon-salad

Nyasha Williams and Kenda Bell-Spruill Talk About:

• The inspiration behind writing Saturday Magic: A Hoodoo Story
• The importance of representation in children's literature
• Kenda and Nyasha's experiences as readers and how it shaped their writing
• Introduction to Hoodoo practices and African ancestral traditions
• The significance of dreams in African American culture and spirituality
• How to connect with ancestors and build stronger ancestral relationships
• Critique of current representation of Black characters in Disney films and animation
• The process of collaborating as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
• Nyasha's new publishing company, Fire + Honey Press, and its mission
• How Saturday Magic: A Hoodoo Story can foster pride and connection to ancestral roots for young Black readers