Reading Divas: Mother Daughter Book Club Celebrates Bonding and Literacy

Shown (L-R): Bederia Kennebrew, Christa Kennebrew, Kyla Coleman, Sage Kincaid, Kristi Kincaid, Dyllan Simmons, Lori Simmons
Shown (l-r) are book club members: Taylor Beauford, Christa Kennebrew, Semiaya Sapp, Justice Sapp, Zoe Barrett, Dyllan Simmons, Jaidyn Beauford, Sage Kincaid

On Saturday, December 14th, the Reading Divas Mother Daughter Book Club held a meeting titled “Hot Cocoa and Cookies” at The Urban League of Jacksonville.  The December meeting marked a milestone for the book club, which began in May of 2019 from an idea of seven year old, Christa Kennebrew.  It was Christa’s love of reading that encouraged her to invite mothers and daughters to discuss books while enjoying light treats.  Along with her mother, Bederia Kennebrew, Reading Divas Book Club hosted its first official meeting June 2019 at the Bleu Chocolate Café The group met at the café where they enjoyed tea, sweet treats and a vibrant discussion of motivating books including “Barak Obama’s, Of The I Sing:  A Letter to my Daughters.”

This December the book club included special guest songstress, Kyla Coleman a student at Lavilla School of the Performing Arts. Kyla’s talent created a festive atmosphere for everyone in attendance. The book talk included a review of the books “Grace at Christmas,” by Mary Hoffman” and “The Invisible Thread,” by Laura Schroff.  In preparation for the book talk; Reading Divas supported the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, by fulfilling a child’s Christmas wish list. This gesture added to the depth of the group and allowed the Diva’s to appreciate the true meaning of the season.

From the start, the group embraced the book club concept by enthusiastically attending and hosting additional book talks. Diva’s member Tia Leathers and her daughter Taige Leathers hosted a “Luau” book talk complete with luau limbo, leis, sweet treats and vibrant discussions of the book “I am Enough,” by Grace Byers. The Luau encouraged the young ladies to embrace their own unique characteristics.  K

Kristie Kincaid and her daughter Sage Kincaid hosted a “Which Witch is Which” book talk where attendees enjoyed savory treats and dressed in their favorite book character costumes.  The book talk included special guest author, DLeisha Ephriam. During the book talk, Ephriam moderated a group reading session and presented signed copies of her book titled “He Did It All.” The young ladies shared their thoughts by reflecting on a plethora of books.

During this Christmas Season and throughout the New Year, Reading Divas aspire to continuously strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters; brighten hearts, heighten minds, strengthen spirits and ultimately to create a village forum for navigating discussions among tweens.

“The mother daughter book club has grown since its inception and continues as a welcome space for the book club village to enjoy and purposefully navigate shared moments,said Bederia Kennebrew.

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