Jonda C. McNair, professor at the Ohio State University, wrote a chapter on the significance of African American children’s literature. It reminds us that children need authentic literature that connects them to genuine human experiences beyond their own.” So I came up with this idea of a critical literacy and children’s literature class. How does children’s literature, especially for the youngest readers, function as a tool for learning and development? In the book, there’s a surprising chapter about the role of smell in early reading, and the importance of offering children multisensory early reading experiences.