"Everybody’s History: The People. United." aims to transform the way we tell history for kids

SAN FRANCISCO - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- When it comes to history, the most conspicuous hole in the traditional telling of history is all the people who are not heard from or talked about, indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQI, women and girls, disabled people....and many others. “Everybody’s History: The People. United,” a new chapter book series from award-winning children’s book illustrator and author, Maya Gonzalez, will be the first of its kind to create a model for elementary and middle school kids that gives voice to all of those who have contributed to our history but have been silenced for multiple reasons, either in their day or over time. With the intention of being inclusive of ALL communities mixed with a fierce sense of fun for kids, each book in the series will explore the life and times of historical heroes through story, anecdotes, quirky facts and unique activities.

With the recent passage of a bill in Russia that forbids teaching children about LGBT people and the racist backlash from a Cheerios commercial featuring a mixed-race family here in the US, it is clear that books like these are needed if we hope to create a world vision of real equality.

Statistically the most bullied and disenfranchised communities coincide with the communities most silenced through history and even now. Maya says about the series, “The plain and simple goal of Everybody’s History is to include more stories, create conversations and trust that as our kids know more about everybody’s history, as they become aware of where we’ve been and where we are, they will move us all forward to a world of greater understanding and acceptance.”

The series will be published through Reflection Press, an independent press that Maya cofounded together with her partner, Matthew. Four years ago, the duo decided to start their own press because they realized the power and breadth of emerging technologies that circumvented traditional publishing routes. With their joint skills they could begin producing the books they wanted that supported their communities. Everybody’s History will come in 3 book groupings or a “triad format” which allows the books to be thematically interconnected for deeper exploration. The series begins with the first three heroes, Harriet Tubman, We’Wha and Charley Parkhurst. The main themes in the first set are the Civil War era, gender expression and race. Each paperback book will be 48 pages with full color illustrations.

For more information about this new series or to back the project:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1493106655/everybodys-history-the-people-united

View the project video: http://youtu.be/7Pci6-N4UOs



About Reflection Press: Reflection Press is an independent publisher of radical and revolutionary children's books and works that expand spiritual and cultural awareness. With the motto, “Create a New Reality,” they provide materials that support a strong sense of individuality along with a community model of real inclusion. Founded in 2009 in San Francisco. www.reflectionpress.com