Mamas Sweet Baby

I’m a BIG history buff. Like the psycho kind that dives headfirst down rabbit holes about wild things that very few people care about. But whatever that random deep dive is about I always approach it from a very fact based center point. Heavy on the primary sources. Heavy on the truth.

That’s one of the reasons I don’t talk about politics on my page - it’s riddled with opinions and misinformation. I try to approach educational materials the same way. Give me facts. Exclude the bias. Less about how I feel and more about what it is because my feelings don’t have to be your feelings.

This next review, centered on civics and the approaching 250th birthday of America, will be an interesting review. Not because I’ve already explored it but because I’ve got to remain true to keeping my feelings out of it:

🇺🇸 As a widow of an AirForce Veteran
🇺🇸 As a mother to two sons that have served
🇺🇸 As a mama to a kid looking to serve as well
🇺🇸 As an American of African descent who knows the history of how this country was built
🇺🇸 As a woman who knows that Justice is female but justice doesn’t treat us kindly
🇺🇸 As a daughter of an immigrant that migrated to a country of immigrants
🇺🇸 As a Global Citizen with a world and not just nationalist point of view
🇺🇸 As a Christian with respect for others and their beliefs

Like I said, it’s going to be interesting.

Curriculum: One Nation Under God by

Coming Soon.

It’s that time of year again - Summer Reading!

From the local library to the big bookstores there are summer reading opportunities everywhere for kids to get rewarded for what they are probably already doing. Reading is one of the best ways to continue the learning even when school is out and if you are year round homeschoolers like us, it will break up the monotony.

Besides, who doesn’t like fun and prizes?!

Take a look at our mini collection of Summer Reading Challenge favorites and add one or two to your kids schedule!

Know of a summer reading challenge not listed here? Put it in the comments and share with another parent.

New on the Blog, www.mamasweetbaby.com ! Our top 4 picks for Christian Math.

I won’t give away the details - you need to go read the post for yourself but it doesn’t matter your homeschool philosophy, Christian, Secular, etc., good resources are good resources! And when it comes to math, you better pick well.

Go take a look!

And out of curiosity, how do you homeschool?
We are secular, eclectic Unschoolers 😉

Sometimes a encompasses every single subject. It’s ALL rigor and there is no denying how important and monumental the lesson is.

Today, adding to our U.S. Capital series, Cash and I visited the political seat of Alabama - Montgomery. But we didn’t take the typical route. It was time to lean into American History from the Black Perspective.

Hey, we homeschool, so only true and accurate history resides in my home. Before we even packed our bags we studied all things Civil Rights. The struggles. The triumphs. The losses. The ancestors.

There is more. The Legacy Sites did not disappoint. And Montgomery Square, brand new and fresh with a large, welcoming set of bronze hands honoring Rosa Parks set the scene for an incredible day of studying American History. 🇺🇸

Make sure you see it for yourself.

The Legacy Sites ( )
Admission for all sites: $5
Free shuttle, parking, and river boat
Fabulous Bookstore and Restaurants

Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday - Monday 9am - 6pm
400 N. Court Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Women are out here REALLY working y’all.

This week I was honored to be on the Founder 2 Founder Podcast with Felicia Wright, who is an American Federation for Children 2026 Fellow with me and we had an awesome time talking about Homeschooling Gifted Learners, finding educational Resources as a BIPOC family, and School Choice here in Alabama and Internationally.

She was interviewing ME, but Felicia is the story here! A former educator, current homeschooler, School Choice Advocate, business woman, Successful Media personality… whew! You don’t have to look far at all to find dynamic women doing things out here in the education realm. Watch our talk, but be sure to take a look at all of her other work on both Spotify and YouTube and see for yourself!

Felicia, my friend, if you call, I’m coming 🙌🏾

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Rx8Yr2nMAsrPSISwssEw2?si=yn3JzQCMT9yIosMZFWDxWw

YouTube: https://youtu.be/tDj-w2BFD5Q

Her Channel is: /Founder 2 Founder Podcast
Website: www.feliciawright.com

“𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: 𝗔 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮,” written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿, feels like standing inside a collage of music, memory, and resistance. Palmer’s paintings don’t just accompany the hymns, spirituals, and freedom songs—they interpret them: layered colors, bold shapes, and textured brushstrokes echo the ache, hope, and praise in the music. Figures tilt their heads back in song, choirs sway, and dancers move through spreads that feel like a blend of stained glass and street mural, inviting young readers to see how Black music has always been both survival and testimony.

Palmer’s style here is unmistakable—deep blues, radiant golds, and saturated reds layered with pattern and silhouette. Faces and bodies are stylized but intensely expressive; an uplifted chin, a closed eye, a raised hand all carry emotional weight. It’s one of the reasons Charly Palmer is one of our favorite artists: his work insists that Black history is not flat or distant, but vivid, textured, and alive in the way we sing, march, worship, and remember.

🎨 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿 is a fine artist, designer, and children’s book illustrator whose mixed‑media paintings center Black history, culture, and spirituality, with each page reading like a standalone canvas.

👁️ 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀: Rich, layered color; collage‑inflected textures; expressive, music‑infused compositions that turn spirituals and freedom songs into something you can see as well as hear.

If you’re curating a Black History Month stack that honors both sound and image, add “How Sweet the Sound” to your list—and take time to explore more of Charly Palmer’s work.

Tell me in the comments: What song—from church, family, or freedom music—feels like home to you?

We love “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and sing it every morning first thing before we start school.

“𝗢𝗼𝗻𝗮,” written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗮, is one of those picture books where the 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸. Figueroa’s underwater world glows with luminous blues, greens, and golds, and every spread feels drenched in light, movement, and texture. The star, of course, is Oona herself—a 𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥 whose brown skin, natural hair, and adventurous spirit are rendered with such care that she feels both magical and completely real.

The illustrations are undeniably pretty, but they’re also powerful: the way Figueroa paints Oona’s natural hair floating in the water, her expressions, and the play of light on her translucent tail turns each page into a tiny seascape you want to linger over.

Figueroa’s style blends rich, painterly digital work with dramatic lighting and perspective, so kids feel like they’re right there in the depths with Oona—Backgrounds are full of coral, bubbles, and small sea details, yet the compositions always bring our eyes back to Oona herself, visually affirming a Black mermaid at the very center of the story.

🎨 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗮 is a children’s book illustrator and visual artist known for her lush color palettes, dynamic lighting, and inclusive character designs, especially in fantasy and fairy‑tale‑adjacent stories. Her work often centers children of color, offering the kind of representation many of us didn’t see growing up—mermaids, heroes, and dreamers who look like us.

👁️ 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀: Luminous, painterly digital art; rich ocean palettes; dramatic light and shadow; and a beautifully rendered Black mermaid whose presence at the heart of the book makes this both a visual treat and a meaningful mirror.

If you’re building a shelf where Black kids can see themselves in magical adventures, add “Oona” to your list.

Tell me in the comments: Which beautifully illustrated book—with a Black main character—you wish had existed when you were a kid?

Mine is “Thunder Rose” Illustrated by Kadir Nelson!

I couldn’t let the month pass without this repost. Right here in the Rocket City you and your children could be closing out Black History Month… with Art.

We’ve been SO busy this month that we have not had a chance to attend The Curated Gallery’s Black History Month exhibition, “Joy Without Consent “ but don’t you think my son hasn’t been stalking me daily about it. He says that last year, seeing the work of local artists, curated the way it was and presented elegantly made his artistic side happy. And who am I to deny happiness.

So tonight’s post, is going local. If you’ve been following along from places other than North Alabama, I suggest you find an inspiring art exhibition to see with your kids very soon as well.

Artist Talk Panel
February 27, 2026 6PM-7PM
The Curated Gallery | Huntsville, AL
Join exhibiting artists Xavier Adam’s, Gary Jones, and Asé Selah for a live conversation on archive, process, interior space, and the everyday presence of Black life as a site of joy. This is where the thinking behind the work becomes audible.

Closing Reception
February 28, 2026 6PM-8PM
930 Old Monrovia Rd, Suite 7 | Huntsville,
AL
One last night to experience the exhibition in full. Community. Reflection. Celebration.
Free entry.
Pre-register at www.thecuratedgallery.com

Did you know that tomorrow is Alabama Home Education Day??

There will be various events at the State capitol and you can celebrate Alabama Home Education Day with us on Facebook all day long.

We’ll be sharing:
🏛️A chance to watch government in action
👀 A look at how laws are made
🗺️ A virtual visit to a familiar Alabama landmark
📜A glimpse into Alabama homeschool history
📍 Interactive stops from around our state
🌾Resources rooted in Alabama life
🎉 A homeschool show & share
🇺🇸 A look ahead at what’s coming next for Alabama families
..and more.

Jump in when you can.
Follow along at your own pace.
Spend the day learning, celebrating, and connecting with homeschool families across Alabama.

Check out the virtual events from your own home (or Montgomery if you can make it) right from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alabamahomeeducationday

“𝗠𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗹𝘂,” written by Stephanie Foster Brown and illustrated by 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀, is a visual meditation on language, memory, and belonging. Morris’s artwork wraps the narrator’s connection to Kriolu in warm, sun‑touched color and gentle textures: soft edges, layered patterns, and expressive faces that make love of language feel almost tangible. Her characters’ postures—leaning in, listening, remembering—quietly show how words carry home, even when place and people are far away.

Morris often plays with scale and space: close‑ups that linger on faces and hands, then wider scenes that hint at landscapes, homes, and cultural details. The palette leans into rich browns, golds, and ocean or sky tones, creating spreads that feel both intimate and expansive, like memory itself. Backgrounds are suggestive rather than crowded, which keeps the focus on relationship—the bond between child, language, and heritage.

🎨 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 is a Caribbean‑American children’s book illustrator and designer whose work centers Black and Brown children with warmth, pattern, and emotional clarity. She often works digitally in a collage‑inspired style, layering shapes, textures, and hand‑drawn details to create scenes that feel both modern and timeless, and she is drawn to stories about identity, culture, and the everyday magic of family life.

👁️ 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀: Soft, textured digital collage; warm, saturated color; expressive characters framed in compositions that honor language and heritage as something you can feel as well as speak.

If you’re building a home or classroom library that lifts up Black illustrators and multilingual stories, add “My Heart Speaks Kriolu” to your list.

In the comments, tell me: What language, phrase, or family word makes your heart feel at home?

In my house, we practice Belizean Kriol 🇧🇿