Rhymz for the Nursoulry

Rhymz for the Nursoulry written by a Homeschool Dad

Like Bennie B,
That's how I want to be;
U 2 can be, like Bennie B.
Taught himself math and astronomy.
I want to be like Bennie.

Catchy tune, right?  It's a nursery rhyme about Benjamin Bannekar, an African-American mathematician and astronomer; and, these lines come from Rhymz for the Nursoulry Vol. 1: A Collection of Nursery Rhymes Inspired by the lives of Africans in America.  LionHeart is already singing along and memorizing his favorites.  The only nursery rhymes I remember from childhood had absolutely nothing to do with my history:  Hickory, dickory, dock, the mouse ran up the clock, comes to mind.  It was catchy, but it certainly wasn't as empowering as songs like Who is Fannie, about Fannie Lou Hamer, a major Civil Rights leader and Voting Rights activist or Blak Kat, about the Black Panther Party.  The songs from the book and the messages about each song are great history research starters for older kids.  Children can learn very complicated songs, why not learn history through music? What makes this book even more unique is that it was written by a homeschool dad.  How awesome it must be for his children to learn from his creations! The music on the accompanying CD was written and produced by talented 13-year-old Michaela Thurlow, who is also a pianist, dancer and actress who has been honing her craft since the age of 3.  Nursery rhymes with historical meaning - I love it!