A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars | 235 ratings

Price: 15.75

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

A guide for families of all backgrounds to celebrate cultural heritage and embrace inclusivity in the home and beyond.

Gone are the days when socially conscious parents felt comfortable teaching their children to merely tolerate others. Instead, they are looking for a way to authentically embrace the fullness of their diverse communities. A Place to Belong offers a path forward for families to honor their cultural heritage and champion diversity in the context of daily family life by:

  • Fostering open dialogue around discrimination, race, gender, disability, and class
  • Teaching “hard history” in an age-appropriate way
  • Curating a diverse selection of books and media choices in which children see themselves and people who are different
  • Celebrating cultural heritage through art, music, and poetry
  • Modeling activism and engaging in community service projects as a family

Amber O’Neal Johnston, a homeschooling mother of four, shows parents of all backgrounds how to create a home environment where children feel secure in their own personhood and culture, enabling them to better understand and appreciate people who are racially and culturally different. A Place to Belong gives parents the tools to empower children to embrace their unique identities while feeling beautifully tethered to their global community.

This audiobook contains a downloadable PDF of the family discussion guides from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Michele Evard
    5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable book for any family’s library
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2022
    Honest, open, thoughtful, inspiring… no one word does justice to this beautifully-written book. I love that the author shares her desire to be inclusive in the introduction, explicitly saying that this book isn’t for any one group of people, and then carries that feeling of welcome through all four sections. The stories of personal experiences and family life that are woven throughout the book help bring a feeling of comfort, conversation and intimacy. At the same time, this book is thought-provoking and worth savoring.

    A few highlights for me from each section:

    Part 1 — Family culture exists, whether we have chosen to articulate it or not. The author shares ways for parents to identify our families’ values and create meaningful ways to share them with our children. Kids sometimes have tough questions; is our home one in which they know they have a safe way to bring up hard topics? The author shares practical ways to enable our children to have those risky but important conversations with us.

    Part 2 — Curating the family library. What books do we choose to have in our homes? Do we have books that help our children see the potential they have? Do we also have books that help them value others and see from different perspectives? The author shares the concept of books that are mirrors and those that are windows; while both are valuable in their own way, having just one or the other limits what children can envision, and how they see themselves & others. I really appreciate how she addressed what’s appropriate and helpful at different developmental stages. Defining what makes a book “good” is more than how old it is or how many people have been required to read it!

    Part 3 — Shaping our own homes. From family cookbooks and keepsake chests to family portraits and handicrafts, the author shares concrete ideas of how to make our homes rich in family culture and belonging. She also addresses tough topics like media usage & hard history in this section, as well as ways to share the love of beauty in music, visual art, poetry, and nature.

    Part 4 — Moving beyond our own homes. When children are secure in their families and themselves, they’re more able to reach our and love others. Have you ever thought of living in another country for a month or more with your children? The author has, and shares some of the ups & downs, as well as practical advice on how to make such a trip financially feasible. What local groups do we belong to? Are there people who are “like us”, who share our race, background, and/or values? Is our family the lone representative of some aspect of ourselves? The author discusses how different groups can be important in a very personal way, and goes on to share concrete examples of how we can model loving our neighbors so our children can carry on that legacy.

    This book spoke to me as a parent, an educator, and a person. I recommend it without reservation.
    Customer image
    Michele Evard
    5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable book for any family’s library
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2022
    Honest, open, thoughtful, inspiring… no one word does justice to this beautifully-written book. I love that the author shares her desire to be inclusive in the introduction, explicitly saying that this book isn’t for any one group of people, and then carries that feeling of welcome through all four sections. The stories of personal experiences and family life that are woven throughout the book help bring a feeling of comfort, conversation and intimacy. At the same time, this book is thought-provoking and worth savoring.

    A few highlights for me from each section:

    Part 1 — Family culture exists, whether we have chosen to articulate it or not. The author shares ways for parents to identify our families’ values and create meaningful ways to share them with our children. Kids sometimes have tough questions; is our home one in which they know they have a safe way to bring up hard topics? The author shares practical ways to enable our children to have those risky but important conversations with us.

    Part 2 — Curating the family library. What books do we choose to have in our homes? Do we have books that help our children see the potential they have? Do we also have books that help them value others and see from different perspectives? The author shares the concept of books that are mirrors and those that are windows; while both are valuable in their own way, having just one or the other limits what children can envision, and how they see themselves & others. I really appreciate how she addressed what’s appropriate and helpful at different developmental stages. Defining what makes a book “good” is more than how old it is or how many people have been required to read it!

    Part 3 — Shaping our own homes. From family cookbooks and keepsake chests to family portraits and handicrafts, the author shares concrete ideas of how to make our homes rich in family culture and belonging. She also addresses tough topics like media usage & hard history in this section, as well as ways to share the love of beauty in music, visual art, poetry, and nature.

    Part 4 — Moving beyond our own homes. When children are secure in their families and themselves, they’re more able to reach our and love others. Have you ever thought of living in another country for a month or more with your children? The author has, and shares some of the ups & downs, as well as practical advice on how to make such a trip financially feasible. What local groups do we belong to? Are there people who are “like us”, who share our race, background, and/or values? Is our family the lone representative of some aspect of ourselves? The author discusses how different groups can be important in a very personal way, and goes on to share concrete examples of how we can model loving our neighbors so our children can carry on that legacy.

    This book spoke to me as a parent, an educator, and a person. I recommend it without reservation.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • Hannah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well done, Amber. I am so thankful for this work!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
    This book is a vulnerable, equipping, practical and kind call to beauty. I loved learning more about her family and her homeschool. Her honesty about hard realities combined with her hopeful attitude were a breath of fresh air. From a Christian perspective much of what she discussed runs parallel to the implications of the theological truth that because people are created in the image of God, they are worthy of dignity and respect.

    As she shared her story I felt invited to dream big, use discernment and humbly own up to my shortcomings. The bigger ideas presented, calls to action and specific resources were practical. Reading these words has encouraged me to press on in what I’m already doing and to set aside time to be an even more thoughtful curator in my own home. I loved when she said: “You are the master curator of your child’s home environment, so think of this book as a grand buffet where you can fill your plate with as much or as little as you’d like, and you’re free to season everything just right to suit your family’s palate before handing it off to your children.” What a beautiful invitation and loving reminder! This book is one I will reference again and again.

    I also loved when she said:

    “This book is not an academic exploitation of cultural differences or a review of models developed to overcome racism. It’s very simply a guide for families choosing to live differently. It’s so easy to remain in our bubbles, doing what we’ve always done, but if we’re going to raise our children to see and value others in an authentic and committed way, we have to extend ourselves. We must expand our thinking, social circles, learning adventures, and relationships.”

    “We need clear lenses, and our children deserve them, too. Through clear lenses our families will see whole people. People who are just like us in a few ways, similar in many ways, and entirely different in big and small ways. People aren’t linear. They’re beautifully abstract, and our children’s hearts and minds need to stretch to handle the fullness of what our sisters and brothers around the world, and next door, bring to the table… Success is not that our children don’t notice diverse images, people, and experiences. Success is that they see people for who they are, notice their beauty, value their presence, and quickly move on because they expected them to be there all along.”
  • Robin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Impactful MUST READ for all parents!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024
    All moms in our homeschool co-op recently read and discussed A Place to Belong, and it is a treasure! It feels like a friend sharing sage advice over a mouthwatering meal. She is a trustworthy guide to help us all in the important, worthy work of expanding love within our homes and beyond. What a beautiful world this would be if we listened to and applied the wisdom Amber has generously shared within these pages: a world filled with children and families who exhibited self-love, graciousness, compassion, empathy, kindness, humility, and love of others. I would encourage all parents to open this book with a collection of highlighters and pens in hand to record and respond to your favorite counsel and quotes (there will be many!). Even better, dig into this gem with a group of friends. Who knows? If you reach out to Amber, maybe she will show up to your book study like she did ours and share some insider information!
    Customer image
    Robin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Impactful MUST READ for all parents!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024
    All moms in our homeschool co-op recently read and discussed A Place to Belong, and it is a treasure! It feels like a friend sharing sage advice over a mouthwatering meal. She is a trustworthy guide to help us all in the important, worthy work of expanding love within our homes and beyond. What a beautiful world this would be if we listened to and applied the wisdom Amber has generously shared within these pages: a world filled with children and families who exhibited self-love, graciousness, compassion, empathy, kindness, humility, and love of others. I would encourage all parents to open this book with a collection of highlighters and pens in hand to record and respond to your favorite counsel and quotes (there will be many!). Even better, dig into this gem with a group of friends. Who knows? If you reach out to Amber, maybe she will show up to your book study like she did ours and share some insider information!
    Images in this review
    Customer image

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    PMP PMBOK 7 Project Management Professional Audio Study Guide 2024-2025: Perfect for Commuting, Exercising, and doing Chores!

    0 0 out of 5 stars 0
    21.83
     
     

    Inheriting Clutter: How to Calm the Chaos Your Parents Leave Behind

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 113
    19.68
     
     

    Become a Studying and Learning Machine: Strategies for the Top of the Class, Promotions, and Smashing Your Goals (Learning Ho

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 33
    13.08
     
     

    How to Boost Your Credit Score 100+ Points in 30 Days Without Credit Repair!

    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 940
    3.46
     
     

    The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher, 4th Edition

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1697
    21.88
     
     

    Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing: Million Dollar Writing Series

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 146
    6.08
     
     

    The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 176
    21.83
     
     

    All the President's Men

    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2765
    19.68