Did you know there is an adapted version of “Becoming” by Michelle Obama for young readers? After a recent stop at Barnes and Noble, I noticed this version and immediately thought of my time reading the book and attending the tour in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There were many fond memories of learning of the journey of Michelle Obama and connecting her experiences to my story.

As we continue our trek in Women’s History Month, it is important to acknowledge the books we read thread our relationships at different levels. This includes people we meet, love, and engage with. Specifically, I will focus on my the thread engaging in texts is creating with my daughter, Laurel-Elaine. 

As I prepared espresso this Sunday morning, my husband and I were listening to “Meet the Press” and began a discussion on “Promised Land” by Barack Obama. We discussed how the former president's rise to the national eye was unconventional. We also discussed his prior tenure as a State Senator. My oldest daughter, Laurel-Elaine interjected and shared, “Yeah, he lost a race in Illinois.” 

I was taken aback by her words. I thought to myself, "How does she know this?" Immediately, I remembered she is reading the young readers’ version of "Becoming." In these moments, I was thrilled to see and hear how my daughter was able to immerse herself into and connect with a new text and contribute to a conversation. Following this, our conversations continued on to include the personal, professional, and political journey of Michelle Obama. 

These moments were beautiful and full circle. Our conversation spoke of the power and influence of reading while building meaningful connections. A typical Sunday morning discussion on national politics (with espresso), evolved into an opportunity to create deeper connections with my daughter, Laurel-Elaine, on the books she is reading and engaging with.