Apart or together, near or far, day or night, from childhood to adulthood -- the never-ending reach and power of a mother's love touches every moment of every day, even when you least expect it. All you need to do is make sure to notice. Deloris and Roslyn M. Jordan, mother and sister of basketball superstar Michael Jordan, celebrate family in this reassuring book about the many special ways we cherish those we love.

The author is a physician and an artist, and indeed this book is lavishly illustrated with his bold, colorful, imaginative paintings. But in his words we see a father dedicated to the task of passing on to his children the wisdom and values he holds so dearly. His writing, grounded firmly in personal experience, is clear and succinct, each message confined to a single page. His comfort and confidence in each subject is evident, whether it be claiming a personal destiny, finding God, or dealing with love, marriage, and friendship. Facing each page of the father's reflective text the reader is treated to one of the artist's vibrant illustrations. This small book belongs on the bedside table of everyone embracing the challenge of finding their own unique path in life.

"Have I Told You Today How Much I Love You?" is one way to express love--beyond an inch, foot, yard, mile, the moon, stars, and Mars--to anyone dear to you. It was written as a bedtime story. But given that it teaches children some fun facts about measurements while reinforcing how much you love them, this book is an ANYtime story. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, and friends can buy this book as a gift and enjoy telling the children in their lives how much they are loved. The author wrote the book for her four nieces and nephews. When asked "Do I love you this much?", the youngest, who is almost four years old, delights in answering, "Not just this much." He starts saying it with his two index fingers an inch apart, and he enjoys repeating the phrase with his hands one foot apart and again with his arm stretched as far as they'll go. Then he starts again. On occasion, his grandfather has joined in. It's a fun, quick read with both basic and profound lessons.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and the New York Times bestselling author of Talking as Fast as I Can comes an “insightful, honest, funny, and moving collection of captivating stories” (BuzzFeed). “Graham is fast and furiously funny. . . . Where Graham leads, we will definitely follow.”—E! Online Lauren Graham has graced countless television screens with her quick-witted characters and hilarious talk show appearances, earning a reputation as a pop culture icon who always has something to say. In her latest book, Have I Told You This Already?, Graham combines her signature sense of humor with down-to-earth storytelling. Graham shares personal stories about her life and career—from her early days spent pounding the pavement while waitressing in New York City, to living on her aunt’s couch during her first Los Angeles pilot season, to thoughts on aging gracefully in Hollywood. In “R.I.P. Barneys New York” Graham writes about an early job as a salesperson at the legendary department store (and the time she inadvertently shoplifted from it); in “Ryan Gosling Cannot Confirm,” she attempts to navigate the unspoken rules of Hollywood hierarchies; in “Boobs of the ’90s” she worries her bras haven’t kept up with the times; and in “Actor-y Factory” she recounts what a day in the life of an actor looks like (unless you’re Brad Pitt). Filled with surprising anecdotes, sage advice, and laugh-out-loud observations, these all-new, original essays showcase the winning charm and wry humor that have delighted Graham’s millions of fans.

This little book holds the message of dignity that every child on this earth needs to hear: You are loved. You matter. You make me smile. You make me the happiest person in the world, just by being you. “Have I ever told you that, for me, there is no one more special than you? That for me, you are the most special child in the world, and that I love you now and will love you forever? Have I ever told you that?” Shani King wrote Have I Ever Told You? as a note to his children, to remind them that they are amazing in their individuality and that they have the power to choose who they want to be in this world. The illustrations create a masterful visual narrative: warm, witty, simple, profound, and as ferociously empowering as a children’s book can be.

Booklist Star A tender and powerful affirmation that Black lives have always mattered. Black lives matter. That message would be self-evident in a just world, but in this world and this America, all children need to hear it again and again, and not just to hear it but to feel and know it. This book affirms the message repeatedly, tenderly, with cumulative power and shared pride. Celebrating Black accomplishments in music, art, literature, journalism, politics, law, science, medicine, entertainment, and sports, Shani King summons a magnificent historical and contemporary context for honoring the fortitude of Black role models, women and men, who have achieved greatness despite the grinding political and social constraints on Black life. Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison, Sojourner Truth, John Lewis, Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, and many more pass through these pages. An America without their struggles, aspirations, and contributions would be a shadow of the country we know. A hundred life sketches augment the narrative, opening a hundred doors to lives and thinking that aren’t included in many history books. James Baldwin’s challenge is here: “We are responsible for the world in which we find ourselves, if only because we are the only sentient force which can change it.” Actress Viola Davis’s words are here, too: “When I was younger, I did not exert my voice because I did not feel worthy of having a voice. I was taught so many things that didn’t include me. Where was I? What were people like me doing?” This book tells children what people like Viola were and are doing, and it assures Black children that they are, indisputably, worthy of having a voice. Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter? is a book for this time and always. It is time for all children to live and breathe the certainty that Black lives matter. Endorsements: “A beautiful and powerful story and a way to engage and teach children—on Black history, which is American history, and on the legacy of Black struggle and achievement in this nation.” —Khary Lazarre-White, Executive Director & Co-Founder, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, and author of Passage “The world needs this yesterday.” —James Forman Jr., Pulitzer Prize – winning author of Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America “Fantastic.”—Janai S. Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund “Black children grow up being treated differently because of the color of their skin. This loving and positive book acknowledges that reality while also celebrating the resilience of Black people and the accomplishments, leadership, and fortitude of Black Americans. We need this book.”—Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Director of the Harvard Medical School Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and former Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

This book and all my Little Girl Black poetry books volumes 1–6 celebrate and confront dreams, religion, marriage, unfairness, sex, friendship, racism, colorism, abuse, strength, judgments, fantasies, love, education, families, power, death, the black sheep syndrome, and many other situations. An education is something you must have. Without a doubt, you will need an education someday. Without an education, who will count your coins, or how would you know how much paper was in your bag before you let your smart-ass accounting count it for you? His or her pockets may just be dripping with your cash. You know, he or she will be twerking and crip-walking all the way to the bank. You better learn quick how to count your moolah. Sticky fingers always come with skills. Without an education, how will you learn about your history? Who will teach you about all the wars that were won and lost if you can’t read? You will have to depend on what someone is telling you. If you can read, you can do your own research of your past, present, and future. If you don’t get an education, someone else will write your story and tell all kinds of tall tales. If you didn’t go to school and learn to write your story yourself, who can tell your life story better than you? An education is a must. You will find out the hard way. Just because they’re your friends in your face doesn’t mean they will be the same friends behind your back. Your story is being written and told by a hater. Navigate your own legacy by learning to read. Who will speak for you if you don’t speak for yourself? No one knows how or why your pain multiplies, why your happiness is so big it floats up to the sky, or how bright your future will get if you keep your head in your books and your nose clean. Dyslexic. I know some of us need a little help or maybe just a little extra time because of how our brain operates or is wired. If I can so graciously attempt to describe a dyslexic mind, I will try, with some old dance crazes from the fifties and sixties as metaphors. Well, here goes. A so-called normal mind or brain does the dance we call the twist, slowly twisting or wiggling your hips and still keeping up with the beat as you let your backbone slip, or a simple, slow drag or stepping—a dance where you’re in total control. Your smooth moves engage every part of your body as you slowly synchronize across the room and floor, holding your partner close. And my brain, a dyslexic brain, is very busy and does an old dance called the funky chicken and the funky, funky Broadway, moving the head, feet, and all limbs at the same time at a faster tempo, but dramatic. Just a step behind, but your imagination is all the way up on cloud nine. That’s how I describe a dyslexic mind. But being dyslexic does not make a normal brain better and surely does not make a dyslexic brain lesser than. It just makes our brains different, simple as that. Cassandra Hudson December 10, 2019