A Door Made for Me

Gr 1-4–Even before the title credits, Merritt contagiously chuckles a welcoming, “Kids, ready?” He’s immediately engaging, “It was kinda hard to relive this whole story...Can I tell you about it?” He recalls a summer visit to his grandparents where he met Jack, who taught him to fish. Their plans to show off their abundant catch to Jack’s friends results in doors slammed on “the little Black boy.” His grandparents’ love can’t erase the racist sting, but their understanding encourages him to find his own door and “hold it wide for whoever wanted to come in.” After bestowing energetic kudos on the production crew, Merritt adds the sound of an opening door as a reminder to help “the next person who is struggling to get in.” A gentle last laugh urges, “You’re gonna have to go home now.”