Review by Booklist Review
This picture book provides a window of hope to Black children, who see news stories about the loss of human life and feel the uncomfortable pressure of staring eyes. It is written in a narrative poetry format with easy-to-read words such as glow, dark, slam, and dim framed against a saturated backdrop, with a purple-tinged, stylized scene on the opposite page that has a soft, air-brushed quality. While stark realities are acknowledged, this book shines in its positive messaging to children: "From the tips of your hair to the lengths / of your toes, you are beautifully and / wonderfully made." The pages enumerate how every part of every child matters--eyes, hands, mind, voice, heart--and, with each of these, an illustration shows a modern Black child finding a way forward with the help of a famous or historical African American, effectively marrying the past with the present; each of these figures, from Oprah to Jackie Robinson, is identified at the end of the text. A welcome addition to any Black Lives Matter collection.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--An engaging text to introduce conversations about race with young readers. Children absorb the messaging from the world around them, and in these volatile times, and Black children may feel a heightened sense of despair and question the value of their own lives. This book makes that question palpable; in one scene, a Black mother is comforting her daughter as they watch the news alongside the passage, "Headlines glow. Sirens wail. A question presses in the dark: 'Does my life matter?'" Readers quickly learn the answer. Yes, Black children's lives matter. Singleton's heartening text and Barron's rich jewel-tone illustrations are inspiring. Each illustration features one or more of ten Black heroes--Katherine Johnson, George Washington Carver, and Jackie Robinson, among them--uplifting a child and showing them the power in their strength, voice, courage, hands, words, and heart. No matter the ills of the world, Black children are "beautifully wonderfully made." Back matter helps readers identify and learn more about the heroes. VERDICT Equal parts homage to Black historical and contemporary figures and a reminder of the greatness that lives within each Black child, this is a title for every collection.--Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day Sch., NY
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