In the Graymont neighborhood, the Smith-Sanders family is soaking up the last moments before their family grows. Kyla Smith is expecting her second child, Xa’Riyah, and her nearly 3-year-old son, Xavion, is already a proud big brother in the making.
One of their favorite shared activities is reading together. Xavion especially loves Hooray for Mail Day!, a go-to book that brings out his curiosity. Kyla hopes that as he grows, so does his love for learning and his sense of wonder about the world around him.
Through participating in Birmingham Talks, Kyla has picked up tools that help her build on the things they already do at home, like adding more description to everyday conversations or helping Xavion make sense of new words. “It gave me tools I could use at home to help him catch on,” she says.
A favorite part of their days includes walks to the neighborhood library, a place Kyla appreciates for its variety of books and the chance to explore something new together.
With baby Xa’Riyah arriving soon, the family’s story is about to add a new chapter – and with it, even more moments to read and grow together.
Photographer: Kelsey Justice
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All 99 celebrates the faces of early learning in Birmingham: our city’s children and families. Small Magic is working with a variety of local photographers to capture a portrait of a family with children under 5 in each of the city’s ninety-nine neighborhoods.