Show NotesReading in the Middle with Annisha JeffriesIn this heartfelt episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries welcomes author Winsome Bingham to talk about her upcoming picture book, On Fridays, illustrated by Jason Griffin and published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House. On Fridays follows Jamar, a young boy who spends Fridays with his mother at the residential building where she works. What begins as a weekly routine becomes something much deeper: a story about elders, community, caregiving, grief, memory, and learning how to keep loving someone after they are gone. Annisha and Winsome talk about the powerful line at the center of the book: “We amongst family. Treat them as such.” They discuss Jamar’s relationships with Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Riff; the importance of honoring elders as whole people; and how Miss Neely’s garden becomes a place of memory and healing. This conversation also explores how children understand grief, why picture books can help families talk about loss, and what it means to give people their flowers while they are still here. Winsome also shares more about this exciting season in her career, including recent and upcoming books such as Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, The Table, Life Is Beautiful, Missing Momma, Fish Fry Friday, the Fort Goode books, Together, and Auntie’s Dance. In This Episode Annisha and Winsome discuss: The story behind On FridaysWhy Fridays become such an important ritual for JamarThe meaning of “We amongst family. Treat them as such”How children learn care by watching adultsWriting elders with joy, personality, and dignityMiss Neely’s garden and the power of remembranceHow children process grief when they do not have all the words yetGiving people their flowers while they are still hereWorking with illustrator Jason GriffinThe connection between On Fridays and The TableWinsome’s books about family, food, grief, joy, memory, and communityHer upcoming books Together and Auntie’s DanceHow librarians, teachers, caregivers, and families can use On Fridays with young readersAbout the BookOn Fridays is a tender story about Jamar, a young boy who accompanies his mother to the residential building where she works. Each Friday, he spends time with the elders there, including Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Riff. Through gardening, music, conversation, and care, Jamar begins to understand that community can become family. When Miss Neely dies unexpectedly, Jamar has to make sense of loss in his own way. With time, love, and the garden Miss Neely cherished, he learns that remembering can also be an act of care. On Fridays is written by Winsome Bingham and illustrated by Jason Griffin. About Winsome BinghamWinsome Bingham is the author of Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, The Table, Life Is Beautiful, Missing Momma, Fish Fry Friday, and the Fort Goode books. Her work often centers family, food, Black joy, grief, memory, community, and the people who help children understand who they are and where they belong. Learn more about Winsome at BinghamWrites.com. Follow her on Instagram at @ArmyVetFive. Books MentionedOn FridaysSoul Food SundayThe WalkThe TableLife Is BeautifulMissing MommaFish Fry FridayFort GoodeTogetherAuntie’s DanceChapter Markers00:00 — Welcome to Reading in the Middle 02:00 — Introducing Winsome Bingham and On Fridays 05:00 — Winsome’s current season of books 09:00 — Where On Fridays began 14:00 — Jamar, his mother, and the lesson of care 19:00 — Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Riff, and honoring elders 25:00 — The garden, the flower, and remembering 31:00 — Writing grief honestly for children 37:00 — Jason Griffin’s illustrations and working together again 41:00 — Winsome’s recent and upcoming books 46:00 — Librarian connections and using On Fridays with young readers 49:00 — Lightning round and closing thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
