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All Because You Matter
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A lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to Black and brown children everywhere: reminding them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will, from powerhouse rising star author Tami Charles and esteemed, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier.
* "A gem for every household." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Stun ...more
A lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to Black and brown children everywhere: reminding them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will, from powerhouse rising star author Tami Charles and esteemed, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier.
* "A gem for every household." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Stun ...more
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Say a phrase repeatedly and there is a very real danger that it will begin lose its initial power. When the words “Black Lives Matter” were first pronounced so loudly and clearly at the beginning of the wider movement, that power was there. Never before have so many considered the implications that rest on the word “matter”. Years passed, and now in 2020, as I write this review, you see the words of “Black Lives Matter” appearing in gigantic letters on streets, on face masks, on signs in yards,
...more
Beautiful love poem written for the author's son, to "provide parents with a starting point for conversations about the racial climate in our country today," and "to remind all children, especially those from marginalized backgrounds that no matter where they come from, they matter."
...more
Oct 12, 2020
Stephanie Jones
added it
This book was beautiful. The words were lyrical and the illustrations belong in an art museum. I’m buying a copy for every child in my family. I want them to see themselves in the pages of this whimsically validating book.
CWs: police brutality, questioning self-worth
This is one of those beautiful books you read to babies and young children to show them how much you love them, how much they matter to the world. I have never read a book like this that was written for Black children, much less Black Filipino American children. It touches 0n topics of ancestors/family history, lives lost from police brutality, and the importance of Black children seeing themselves on the page.
This is one of those beautiful books you read to babies and young children to show them how much you love them, how much they matter to the world. I have never read a book like this that was written for Black children, much less Black Filipino American children. It touches 0n topics of ancestors/family history, lives lost from police brutality, and the importance of Black children seeing themselves on the page.
“The first time you opened a book, li...more
What a beautiful book, both with artwork and text. Throughout it notes how all young black and brown children matter, while also drawing attention to some of the ways society has misunderstood and mistreated them. For example, the names of Trayvon, Tamir, and Philanda are mentioned, as well as the mention of classmates giggling over the pronunciation of an unusual name.
Or the first time you opened
a book,
like a mirror staring back at you,
and really saw yourself…
same hair,
same skin,
same dreams. ...more
Or the first time you opened
a book,
like a mirror staring back at you,
and really saw yourself…
same hair,
same skin,
same dreams. ...more
Both text and illustrations are stunningly beautiful and powerful! Don't miss the author and illustrator notes in the back. Tami Charles describes needing to have The Big Talk with her son and wanting to create "a starting point for conversations about the racial climate in our country today." Bryan Collier (winner of multiple Caldecott Honors) discusses the influence of his grandmother's quilt making in his art work and how he used petal shapes "to build a blossoming effect in all backgrounds .
...more
Dec 15, 2020
Sandy Brehl
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
concepts,
family,
differences,
honesty,
early-mg,
language-development,
history,
multi-cultural,
young-elementary,
very-young
There is NO denying that this extraordinarily talented illustrator, Bryan Collier, has poured his heart and soul into this picture book. The text and illustrations together are riveting, despite using minimal language and a blend of science, history, multi-lingual lines, and concepts that are interwoven throughout. This is an essential books for sharing with kid of every background and identity, across many ages. It is even more essential for all parents. Black and POC parents will embrace it, b
...more
This book has beautiful illustrations and a strong, powerful, and poetic message-you matter, they matter, we matter, and always will. Beginning with an expectant mother, the book follows the baby as he grows up. On one spread, he is watching TV with his Dad "and you see people everywhere take a breath, take a stand, take a knee". The illustrator was influenced by his quilting Grandma, and every page has flower petals that look like quilt pieces. I think this would be a great book for story time.
...more
Gorgeous homage to the black child. Bryan Collier's paint and collage illustrations are astonishing as always, and Tami Charles writes in a lyrical, powerful voice that brought tears to my eyes.
From the last pages:
"And on the day
the universe was created,
you were thought of,
dreamed of,
carried like a
knapsack full of wishes,
as planets,
stars,
moons
took their places...
Making room for you,
your people,
their dreams
your future.
All because,
since the beginning of time...
You mattered.
They ma ...more
From the last pages:
"And on the day
the universe was created,
you were thought of,
dreamed of,
carried like a
knapsack full of wishes,
as planets,
stars,
moons
took their places...
Making room for you,
your people,
their dreams
your future.
All because,
since the beginning of time...
You mattered.
They ma ...more
Not enough words for how beautiful this book is ~ words and illustrations are a perfect match. So many children never hear this message from the people around them. It is a reminder to me to stand in the gap and be a light of this love for the those who don't know how special they are.
Just a great book. ...more
Just a great book. ...more
I definitely thought this was on one of our upcoming Mock Caldecott Award tables, but it's not?! I liked this a lot. It's very readable and not too-text heavy while also touching on some important topics (namely BLM). The illustrations are beautiful, layered, and colorful. I love Bryan Collier's work and this is another great addition to his oeuvre.
...more
Stunning artwork and powerful message.
Empowering for young people to see themselves in print and to be encouraged to believe in themselves no matter what.
Empowering for young people to see themselves in print and to be encouraged to believe in themselves no matter what.
A touching love letter to black children reminding them that they have a place in this world and that they indeed, do matter. I think some parts may go over the heads of some children but overall it was inspirational and encouraging. 4.5 stars.
Official Rating:
5/5 stars 🌟
5/5 stars 🌟
There are some books you just have to read to understand the power and profundity of words. After a few pages, I had a hard time reading through all my tears. I’m so glad this book exists.
Lovely one. Colliers illustrations compliment Charles words so peacefully. I enjoyed it. Hope kids are too
Parents and teachers of black and brown children need to read these words, show these beautiful illustrations, and remind children they matter.
#BlackLivesMatter because all lives matter in this story. #weneeddiversebooks
This is it. The one that gets my vote to sweep the YMAs in January...
Beautiful read reminding the reader they matter!❤️
Oct 02, 2020
Brenda Kahn
added it
Utterly gorgeous in every way. This is one I will return to again and again.
This books lifts the heart. It carries the pain of too many lives cut short with musical prose and piercing imagery. It glorifies Black lives, carries them into the stars. Every place with children should have this book.
Such a timely book! Works so much of current events in, but keeps the strong emphasis that the individual child matters. Mentions taking a knee, Trayvon, Tamir, Philando, and a beautiful Black Lives Matter illustration at the back.
Author's Note: "I also wrote this book to remind all children, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, that no matter where they come from, they matter." ...more
Author's Note: "I also wrote this book to remind all children, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, that no matter where they come from, they matter." ...more
I've both enjoyed and appreciated the author Tami Charles' YA and middle grade fiction, as well as her non-fiction picture book, so was excited to read this one. Wow. It's so beautiful, moving, safe, loving, and strong.
And it belong in every young child's home.
This book is true art in that it has layers we need to take in one at a time, and we see something different at each look.
At first I was focused on the kids in the book, how the emotion of the words played out in their eyes (illustrator B ...more
And it belong in every young child's home.
This book is true art in that it has layers we need to take in one at a time, and we see something different at each look.
At first I was focused on the kids in the book, how the emotion of the words played out in their eyes (illustrator B ...more
Adjectives fail me as I try to describe this book's illustrations, created with collage and watercolor. I have yet to find a book illustrated by Bryan Collier that hasn't left me stunned by his detailed images--and this one is no exception to that experience. There is something stunning on just about every page, but my favorites would have to be the image in which a young boy, head down, looks at his paper and is disappointed in the grade as well as the one in which a child is first mesmerized b
...more
The perfect vehicle to use to open up The Talk with children - not only for people of color, but also for other children as well.
The book starts out with a loving couple who are expecting a baby. When the baby is born, he grows and goes through the ages and stages of childhood - including seeing things that his parents want to frame and put in context for him. All because he matters just as much as everyone.
Charles' poem is stunning in its simplicity. Told from the point of view of a mother, thi ...more
The book starts out with a loving couple who are expecting a baby. When the baby is born, he grows and goes through the ages and stages of childhood - including seeing things that his parents want to frame and put in context for him. All because he matters just as much as everyone.
Charles' poem is stunning in its simplicity. Told from the point of view of a mother, thi ...more
This picture book tells Black and brown children that they matter. They were dreamed of by their ancestors. Stars sprayed the sky on the day they were born. Their first steps matter, their first words, and the first time a book opened as a mirror for them to see themselves. The book speaks to how at times you may question your place in the world, like when people laugh at your name or when you see the news about racial injustice and Black people being killed. But that does not change the power a
...more
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The word matter could be defined in multiple ways, but beyond meaning, matter is the fundamental word in the social and political movement against racial injustice. A couple guide their child through life, from the hardships of infancy like learning how to walk, to the difficulties of identity and self-worth present later in life. The uncertainty of existence for people of color is made clear, referencing those before whose lives were lost, “Trayvon, Tamir, Philando.” Before we can understand th
...more
In this beautiful ode to growing children, especially diverse marginalized ones, the clear message is that they're all highly valued, and yes they matter! Considering the turbulant society children view these days, this poem is an affirmation about why they matter. Their majestic history, including their ancestors who strove to make this world a better place for future generations, and of course the immense love their parents had as they planned for their new baby, are all eloquently shared. Rac
...more
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Tami Charles is a former teacher and the author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, and nonfiction. As a teacher, she made...
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