Small Voices, Big Impact: Stories of Courage and Change

Jed Doherty welcomes authors Carmen Rubin and Leslee Flanagan to explore how picture books connect children with history, family, and the world around them.

Historian Carmen Rubin shares the story behind A Night for the Rice Carriers, honoring Yaya and Panza, West African women who hid rice in their braids while escaping enslavement. Their knowledge helped them survive and build new communities. Rubin celebrates their courage and ingenuity rather than focusing only on suffering. She chose a picture book to introduce history early through rhythm, imagery, and joy. Recalling stories shared as her grandmother braided her hair, Rubin stresses the importance of passing family histories between generations. The book invites conversations about ancestry, bravery, identity, and community. She also previews a 1960s-set book about a friendship between a Black girl and a Jewish boy.

Author Leslee Flanagan discusses Sea Glass Kids: Ocean Pollution Solutions, inspired by volunteering at Mystic Aquarium and seeing animals harmed by plastic and discarded fishing gear. In the story, children educate their community and encourage people to reduce pollution. Flanagan says the problem can feel overwhelming, but small actions add up, and children can motivate adults. Trash from inland neighborhoods can reach the ocean through storm drains and streams. A former teacher and lifelong animal lover, she reflects on her winding career, cancer diagnoses, and determination to create meaningful work. Both authors celebrate resilience and show how stories can help people of every age learn, connect, and make a difference in their communities.