Black Boy, Black Boy

by Ali Kamanda, Jorge Redmond, Ken Daley (Illustrator)

Inspire Black boys to imagine all the great things they can do while celebrating remarkable moments from Black history!

Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so.

Let's start your story―ready, set, go.

From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Sam Cooke, inventor Elijah McCoy and writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. This lyrical, rhythmic text encourages boys to imagine everything they can be and the great things they can do, drawing on the strength of people throughout history that paved the way for Black boys today.

Black Boy, Black Boy tells today's boys: you have the courage, you are the light. It's a new day! Be inspired and motivated by drawing on the history of the role models that came before you.

Black Boy, Black Boy is perfect for those looking for:

-inspirational books for kids

-joyful Black childrens' books

-Black history books for kids

Genres: Picture Books, African American, Childrens, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 9, 2022

Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joyous book. I met the authors at a library conference and they said they wrote this book because they wanted their sons to learn about more notable Black men than MLK. Look for their next book about Black girls soon. Their daughters asked for a book of their own...

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my toddler's bedtime. This is our third or fourth time reading this book since last year. A fabulous rhyming story to inspire kids of color. Each area of life has an adult of color for kids of color to look up to: like a football player Colin Kaepernick, an activist Martin Luther King, an inventor Elijah McCoy, Navy Seal William Goines, poet Chinua Achebe, and many more. The story followed a hands-on dad encouraging his son to go ahead and dare to dream. The dad asked his son how he felt, what he saw and loved. He introduced the boy to famous historical figures of color to inspire him to shine, to work hard, and to start his journey. A wonderful book for all kids. A great Father's Day gift.

Thank you Sourcebooks Kids for the opportunity to read and review!

[Wendi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book takes us on a journey through the lives of nine amazing Black men, providing the inspiration for future generations of Black boys. The illustrations were bright and hopeful, and the rhyming story will appeal to young readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rhyming picture book tells the story of 9 black men who shaped history in their own ways and are wonderful role models for young people to look up to. There is about 2 pages dedicated to each of the 9 men described in this book, with minimal textual information, but also including detailed pictures to show the impact that they made, for example through dance or public speaking. At the end of the book are short biographical paragraphs about each of the people featured in the story. The underlying message of the book is that there are many wonderful role models to look up to and that despite the many challenges that IBPOC community members face, it is possible to make a difference in the world and to fight for what is right. As a grade 3 teacher I would definitely consider purchasing a copy of this book for my classroom library. I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 5-9 range, but could also see it being used with older students, as the biographical information at the end of the book could be a starting point for research, and potentially with younger children too as it is a rhyming story and it is never too early to teach children about diversity and racism. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

[ryan wilkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Sourcebooks for an advanced reading copy!

This story is pure Black joy and celebration. And I’m absolutely here for it! I love all the nods to the amazing Black figures that we have had and continue to have as we move forward in life. Absolutely amazing, and the illustrations are phenomenal!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the author and illustrator by way of Zoom as they presented this book. What a marvelous undertaking and end result. Really liked the rhyming scheme, patterned on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and children will really get into this. The bright colors and the illustrations are spot on. Lots of information is presented in a child-centered manner.

All children need heroes, people they can look up to, and people who look like they do. This book gets that done perfectly. The author relates the stories of nine Black men, ranging from Colin Kaepernick to Matthew Henson to Sam Cooke, authors and artists. Children can read about these heroes and see their experiences about people who look like them. The author captures perfectly the optimism and respect of these leaders.

I received an e-ARC from SourceBooks and NetGalley, in exchange for a review.

[Tara Engel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good for showcasing a few Black men in history. But I felt as it was trying to dhow a young Black boy that he could do anything, be anything, it still was placing a limit on that. That he could only look to those Black men as role models in his life. Why can't we have more books talking to all children about multiple people of influence and not try to restrict it to race or gender. I received a free e-book from sourcebooks.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A black man shares stories of some of his favorite black male heroes with a young black boy. It's an inspiring book for all children, with bright illustrations and fantastic role models.

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so poetic and meaningful. It’s so important to have people to look up to that are like you. That you can see yourself in. Having that gives you the strength as a child to want something, to learn and work for something. I love this. It touched my heart and I want every kid to read it!

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong illustrations and great representation with disjointed rhyming.

[Tiffany Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Boy, Black Boy earned a 2023 Skipping Stones Honor Award. This is a tale of a black father who goes through history with his son to encounter important black men in our history and their accomplishments. His father shares stories of triumph and tells his son that it is now his turn to make his mark and create his own path. History does not have to define his son's future. This was an easy, fun read with rhyming and the pattern of writing reminded me a lot of of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. I think younger kids will gravitate towards the rhyming and familiarity of the pattern. I believe this book was a "telescope" reflecting the black cultural community and the possibilities of a brighter future. This story reminded me of an article read by Stephanie Toliver: "It is our obligation to make sure that all students have access to multiple windows, mirrors, and telescopes so they can look beyond what is and imagine what could be. (Toliver, 2021). This would be a wonderful choice for ages 3-6. I recommend this book in a preschool classroom for ages 3-5. It would be wonderful as part of teaching Black History, race, poetry, role models, and identity development.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part biographical and part inspirational—Kamanda and Redmond let the achievements of men like inventor Elijah McCoy, activist Martin Luther King, explorer Matthew Henson, and six other notables inspire a young Black boy as he walks and talks with his father. The lyrical verse simply names each man, but back matter briefly describes all 9 and their accomplishments.

Thanks for hosting Texas librarians to a special dinner with Ali Kamanda and other authors during our annual conference, Sourcebooks, and extra thanks for providing us with a copy of this book and others.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

As an instructor of Children's Literature/Media for a Graduate Library School Program, I take very seriously the need to curate exceptional books so that children can see their own experiences and their own faces "mirrored". Black Boy, Black Boy is THAT book.

I was so caught up in it that the graceful rhyme pattern caught me by surprise, and then I realized that this is Brown Bear, Brown Bear for Black Boys, who need to see heroes who look like them all around them.

The story is framed by a father and young son going out on an adventure. The language is full of love and optimism and hope and joy. The colors are bright and magical, with just enough foreshadowing to keep young readers in a state of anticipation.

By presenting talented Black men, the text checks off the "informational" checkbox but in a way that will inspire curiosity and admiration of Colin Kaepernick, MLK, Elijah McCoy, Emory Malick, William Goines, Sam Cooke, Chinua Achebe, Arthur Mitchell, and Barack Obama. (The book includes a paragraph on the achievements and prominence of all of these individuals). The informational bits are also buttressed by expressions of love, guidance and confidence stated by the father to his son.

This gorgeous book moves me to tears by its message of optimism and respect and pure love. It is what all children, boys and girls, need to see and hear to feel valued. I hear a whisper that the authors are coming out with a similar book for girls? I can only hope. Regardless, this perfect book is a must for your (school and other) library shelves.

[Katherine Labayan]

The picture book "Black Boy, Black Boy" celebrates black history and how children these days can make history of their own. In the book, the main character is introduced to various successful black individuals that have made history. From Martin Luther King Jr. to former President Barack Obama, the main character learns about the impact that these people had on the world. In the book, the person showing the child around says, "Name me a song you really like to hum. Like Sam Cooke's 'A Change is Gonna Come.' Break boundaries, dear boy, shape your own fate. President Barack Obama became the Head of the State." This quote reveals that the main character has various paths in his life that he can take, and that he can follow in the footsteps of those before him that accomplished things despite the color of their skin. The drawings in the picture book are beautiful and deliver very strong emotions to the reader. The colors that are used are vibrant and happy, which will give off the message that a child should be excited and proud about black history. The neon colors in this book symbolize happiness but also freedom. This is comparable to Moebius' code of color.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walt Disney was quoted as saying, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

Martin Luther King had a dream he looked to fulfill and he did it, along with other black boys and men like President Barack Obama and Arthur Mitchell. These are just a few of the nine men highlighted in this awesome children's book aimed at black boys.

This book is illustrated by Ken Daley with large and bold pictures. Each follows a rainbow road to a different person that highlights the person's achievement. Each page gives black boys the opportunity to set their life like each man and to dream big.

I love this book and highly recommend it! 5 stars!!!

PS. I have heard through the grapevine that there will be a second book out from black girls. I cannot wait to read that one too!

Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art, beautiful verse, beautiful message! A young Black boy is led by his father to meet the amazing, inspiring, accomplished Black men that came before him to give him his birthright. He's encouraged by his dad to look to their example to find his own power and begin his journey.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning, full of gorgeous color and energy. The verse is lovely too, with a great flow and rich vocabulary. While the importance of Dr. King and President Obama cannot be overstated, I liked the inclusion of other men I hadn't heard as much about--artists and inventors and heroes. This would be a great addition to school, classroom, and home libraries and I think kids will love it!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Widad Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Black Boy, Black Boy" is a picture book that written by a black authors named Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond . The book talks about a black boy who is looking at all these black people that can inspire him and make him believe that he can be something important in the future. The book has a lot of inspirational words that inspire everyone, but especially Black people, to embrace their identity and have huge dreams.. I felt that the book has an amazing vibe that I personally received from reading it. I will recommend this book to all early childhood education teachers because I felt that teachers can use it to inspire confidence and a sense of pride for their students. It also talks about the community, culture, and the pursuit of dreams which will be an amazing book to make my students, especially black students, believe in themselves and work hard to reach their dreams.

[Bridgette A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book "Black Boy, Black Boy", is by black author Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond. They are black men who written this book, for children of the ages of 5-8 years of age. The book is to take the children down memory lane, of all the black men who work hard as famous politicians, athletes, singers, inventors, poetry writers, and civil rights movement leaders. Also, the book is to encourage little black children in general, that they dream and imagine what they want to be when they grow up. Especially, for little black boys, to let the horizon of their minds flow and expand. What children need is have it in their hearts, that they can succeed.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewing an ARC version on behalf of Raincoast Books.

A lovely little picture book that directly relates the life of a little black boy into the lives of great black men that have gone on before.

A story to inspire young black children to aspire to something more.

I love the bright colours and the path the winds it way through the pages.
Rhyming couplets make it easy to read.

A good start to seeing history for young children, or a primer for older students easily giving them people they can learn more about. People from a wide variety of paths.

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC through their Early Reads program.

I loved this book. The colors and illustrations are beautiful an eye catching. The rhyming was great and leads the reader through the book. There is a nice selection of historical black men. This book is intended to inspire young black children and I think it does a great job in selecting men from different paths and walks of life. There was a great section at the end that provides small bios on each of the figures found in the book.

[Shyiesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a much needed book for black boys. I love how this picture book is told from the perspective of a black father to his son. It shows that A) black father's are present and B) black father's have dreams and desires for their children (period). The saying goes, "only a man can teach a boy how to be a man" and that especially rings true for black boys. Finally, I love how the father was able to lay many examples of positive black men before his son. What he essentially, taught his son was to dream big and to aim high! If one black man can do, then so can you!

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another fumbling attempt to use rhyming verse in a children's book. Although the subject is worthwhile and the pictures are stunning, the accompanying words are shoehorned awkwardly together in an attempt to describe a famous black man, his accomplishments, and still rhyme. There is a blurb about each famous person featured in the back of the book that provides a bit more context, but the main text is just so clunky, I can't even.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Sourcebooks Explore through Edelweiss+.
A Black father offers encouragement to his son as he shares about past achievements by other Black men and boosts his confidence as he looks to his future. The illustrations are lovely and the path weaving through the book is a visible connection to history and what is to come. Kamanda's use of rhyming text brings out the power of this story.
A must for families to share together.

[Ashley Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love letter to all Black boys in the world. Unlike other books, the author does an awesome job of selecting inspirational men from the past and present. I was equally impressed with the selection of men that I have never heard of before. Also selecting men from different career fields, is always a plus with me. This would be a book that I definitely find a way to put into my curriculum and classroom library.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Kids and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Black Boy, Black Boy is reminiscent of Eric Carl's Brown Bear, Brown Bear in its rhythm and cadence. The text connects readers to Black men who have changed the world - Colin Kaepernick, Elijah McCoy, Sam Cooke, Chinua Achebe, and so many more. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and really draw the reader in. This book would be a wonderful addition to any collection or library.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the advanced reader’s copy to share and review.

This rhyming picture book takes readers on a journey with a father highlighting some of the changemakers in Black history for his son. The text and illustrations are uplifting, motivational, and inspiring.

Back matter includes two pages of short, biographical text for each Black man referenced in the text.

Pair with I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. Publishing in August 2022.

[Lellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great motivational picture book to lift up young black boys by encouraging them to see their worth and by also sharing experiences of notable black men of history in rhyming lyric. This is perfect for schools and home libraries. The art is great as well. This is an ARC version, so some things can change before publishing, but I didn't love the font in this early version.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a free e-ARC through Source Books Early Reads, and it was a great read. It is filled with history but also showcases inspiring living history and encouraging messages for the future. This children's book is beautiful love letter to young Black boys about all the incredible things they can be and different ways they can share their own gifts, and overall great book for every kid to be introduced to and learn about impactful Black men who've brought lasting influence.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Black boy is told it's his time to shine following great Black leaders who paved the way. I'm glad there's a spread at the back to give a little more biographical detail on some of the figures mentioned. A good book to introduce some amazing figures to a young audience. Now, it's this Black boy's turn. The rhyming text makes it move as the Black boy starts his journey and leaves his mark/change on the world.

[Rachel Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Was great to read an updated picture book with newer heroes/people to look up to.

The drawings were cool as well. Liked the way the story moved and the prose was written well. Unsure about the reviews that claim it was hard to read... Obviously poetry needs more focus in our school systems as this follows one of the most basic ways to write poetry and was ridiculously easy to read aloud to my toddler.

Overall another great read.