Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Flyaway Books (2020), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages
Description
Growing up, Jeremiah is puzzled by racially-motivated gun violence in and beyond his community but when he is ready to talk about it, he learns hopeful forms of activism and advocacy. Includes a discussion guide by the Muhammad Ali Center.
User reviews
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
Jeremiah is a kid with questions. Questions about real-life events that are hard to talk about. Perhaps there's some way for Jeremiah to deal with the realities of racism and gun violence in For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by author Michael W. Waters, illustrated by Keisha
No, I don't pick up very many children's picture books these days. But as soon as I got my hands on this one, I went through and looked at all of the illustrations first.
I felt the tug of tears before I even read a word.
Yes, I did go back and read the words afterward, taking my time to absorb young Jeremiah's journey along with the awesome artwork, appreciating this serious and accessible story of perplexity, grief, frustration, love, and compassion. A poignant story that's handled with respect, wisdom, and an inspiring measure of hope.
And the most delightful part for me while reading this book? Watching Jeremiah's great hair!
Indeed, children of all colors and backgrounds need stories like this. Teach children early on, long before they end up as teenagers or adults who are uninformed—or misinformed with a lot to unlearn.
Oh, and there's a detailed guide in the back of the book to help with starting these important discussions in the classroom or at home. Excellent!
__________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
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Morris.No, I don't pick up very many children's picture books these days. But as soon as I got my hands on this one, I went through and looked at all of the illustrations first.
I felt the tug of tears before I even read a word.
Yes, I did go back and read the words afterward, taking my time to absorb young Jeremiah's journey along with the awesome artwork, appreciating this serious and accessible story of perplexity, grief, frustration, love, and compassion. A poignant story that's handled with respect, wisdom, and an inspiring measure of hope.
And the most delightful part for me while reading this book? Watching Jeremiah's great hair!
Indeed, children of all colors and backgrounds need stories like this. Teach children early on, long before they end up as teenagers or adults who are uninformed—or misinformed with a lot to unlearn.
Oh, and there's a detailed guide in the back of the book to help with starting these important discussions in the classroom or at home. Excellent!
__________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member DonnaMarieMerritt
It's deeply disturbing that we need books like this (and many more). The title alone is enough to make me cry. I cannot understand why in 2020 (2020!) we still judge and destroy and attack based on race. But we do. Every. Single. Day. And if I can't wrap my head around it as an adult, how does a
It's a picture book, but as a school librarian, I'd recommend it to all ages.
Release date: September 2020
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child make sense of what's happening? Michael Waters offers a way to gently explain, but without sugarcoating, violence and racism. By example, Jeremiah's parents answer his questions, but don't push him to talk. They wait until he's ready. The best part? They give him ways that he and all kids can make a difference. Being able to act is empowering and gives Jeremiah—and us—hope for a better future. The author's thoughtful note and informative discussion guide both add power to this necessary book, and Keisha Morris's gorgeous illustrations bring it all together.It's a picture book, but as a school librarian, I'd recommend it to all ages.
Release date: September 2020
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LibraryThing member sylliu
For Beautiful Black Boys who Believe in a Better World is an honest and moving story about Jeremiah, a Black boy who can't understand the news he hears about Black boys and men being shot down, police brutality, and racism. His parents don't have good answers for him. As he works through his
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feelings and absorbs information, his parents give him hope by encouraging him to vote, organize, pray, and help make the world a better place. The book comes with discussion questions to help parents and teachers talk about these difficult issues with children. Show Less
LibraryThing member staciec
In this book, issues of race and violence are treated carefully and compassionately. Jeremiah, the young boy at the center of the story, grows locs, and this mirrors the moral of the story related to race-based violence. Combining the beauty of a young Black boy with developmentally-appropriate and
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honest descriptions of shootings, vigils, protests, and related topics, this book treats a hard topic with hope. There is a helpful discussion guide at the end for parents and educators, and I'd highly recommend it for both groups. Show Less
LibraryThing member loafhunter13
This book is a must read and not only because it is extremely timely in 2020. The themes and questions poised in the book are timeless unfortunately. They also apply to a far bigger group of people globally than Black people in America. The text is honest and emotion as one would expect coming from
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a child of Jeremiah's age. The art work is soft but conveys the heaviness of the topics and feelings in the room during the narrative. A great conversation starter for home or classroom. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweeks1980
One of the many challenges facing parents and teachers is how to address the issues of racism and police brutality with younger children who have questions about what they are seeing and hearing. Fortunately, For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Waters and Keisha
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Morris offers a moving and thoughtful way to discuss these topics. Through the story of Jeremiah, a young black boy who hears about the gun violence often perpetrated on members of the black community, including Trayvon Martin, Alton Sterling, and the Charleston Nine, readers are introduced not just to the problems caused by racism and gun violence but also to ways that people can combat these issues. This provides a hopeful note and makes the book accessible and appropriate for younger readers. The discussion guide by the Muhammad Ali Center offers further support and ideas for how to talk about issues at home and in the classroom. Overall, this is a wonderful and important resource. Show Less
LibraryThing member HAUMC
This is an honest, meaningful portrayal of a young Black boy who, with the loving guidance of his family, becomes aware of the steady drumbeat of violence inflicted on Blacks in America. Observing real-life events, Jeremiah asks his Dad why this is happening, why are there shootings, what is a
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vigil? His father calmly and supportively responds as best he can, while explaining the ways in which he works for change. After each conversation, Jeremiah absorbs his father’s words, but …“he didn’t want to talk anymore”. A young boy’s heartfelt response as he tries to assimilate what he is coming to understand. In time Jeremiah is ready to talk and work for change. The illustrations are appealing and powerfully portray the beauty of Jeremiah through his journey. The book includes a thorough discussion guide created by the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Our church library is privileged to have received an advanced proof of this important book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is highly recommended as an essential resource for all personal, public, school and church library collections. Thank you, Mr. Waters, for creating this excellent, much needed and inspiring book. Show Less
LibraryThing member frankiejones
An important book, could not be more relevant. Something I plan to use in my classroom to help kids of all ethnicities understand what the racial injustice in our society. Something I would recommend for all adults to read too. I would use this book to help my black students understand their own
I consider this a must have for my classroom library.
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feelings and to help my white students to empathize with something they have not experienced personally. I consider this a must have for my classroom library.
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LibraryThing member JenW1
It breaks my heart that in 2020 we still need books like this; but we desperately need more of them! The illustrations convey such emotion, I just want to weep for this little boy and his family as they struggle to make sense of the senseless. I also love that the illustrations include people of
The needless violence against people of color in this country is depicted sensitively in a manner that is accessible for elementary school age kids. The story itself isn't super strong, but that's actually not the point of the book (imho). The book includes a discussion guide and a bunch of resources from the Muhammad Ali Center at the end and that's where the true genius of this book lies. This book is a great springboard for further discussion, especially if the adult leading the discussion has read the discussion guide and prepared ahead of time. Definitely recommended.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from Flyaway Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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all colors and backgrounds at the marches and rallies. The needless violence against people of color in this country is depicted sensitively in a manner that is accessible for elementary school age kids. The story itself isn't super strong, but that's actually not the point of the book (imho). The book includes a discussion guide and a bunch of resources from the Muhammad Ali Center at the end and that's where the true genius of this book lies. This book is a great springboard for further discussion, especially if the adult leading the discussion has read the discussion guide and prepared ahead of time. Definitely recommended.
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from Flyaway Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member CTW
Powerful, timely, important story. The ongoing acts of violence against Black lives are chronicled through the eyes of Jeremiah, a young Black boy who asks his parents tough questions about what he sees on the news and in the city around him. The parents beautifully model how to have these
Unlike many children's books addressing racism and police brutality, this one doesn't shy away from naming names - Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, the Charleston Nine, and others. While this approach might be more intense than discussing a fictional victim, I think it's extremely valuable for young readers to learn the names of these real people who lived and died. Violence is never directly depicted in the illustrations, but they vividly portray the characters' emotions amidst scenes such as vigils and protests. The story is also framed by Jeremiah's desire to grow out his hair into locs, which is eventually compared to the patience and persistence required to change the world ("It's like my hair! You told me my locs would take a long time. I just had to wait and believe. And with a little help, it happened.") While the metaphor may be imperfect, uplifting natural Black hairstyles is a beautiful touch to the story.
Although the title suggests a specific audience, this is an important and empowering story for all children - an affirming "mirror" for Black kids, and an eye-opening "window" for White kids who also need to understand the realities of racial violence and how to stand up to it. I might not share this book with very young children, but it would be appropriate for mid to upper elementary and older. Also a great read for parents, teachers, and other adults who want to address these issues with the children in their lives; see the discussion guide in the back to further support these important conversations.
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conversations in age-appropriate but honest ways; through their consistent validation and openness to his questions, Jeremiah eventually becomes comfortable expressing his feelings ("I'm tired of people killing each other! I'm tired of people hating each other just because they are different or because of the color of their skin!") and then asks what can be done about it. The multi-faceted answer provided - which includes voting, marching, organizing, praying, donating money, speaking out against injustice, and more - ends the story on a hopeful, empowering note.Unlike many children's books addressing racism and police brutality, this one doesn't shy away from naming names - Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, the Charleston Nine, and others. While this approach might be more intense than discussing a fictional victim, I think it's extremely valuable for young readers to learn the names of these real people who lived and died. Violence is never directly depicted in the illustrations, but they vividly portray the characters' emotions amidst scenes such as vigils and protests. The story is also framed by Jeremiah's desire to grow out his hair into locs, which is eventually compared to the patience and persistence required to change the world ("It's like my hair! You told me my locs would take a long time. I just had to wait and believe. And with a little help, it happened.") While the metaphor may be imperfect, uplifting natural Black hairstyles is a beautiful touch to the story.
Although the title suggests a specific audience, this is an important and empowering story for all children - an affirming "mirror" for Black kids, and an eye-opening "window" for White kids who also need to understand the realities of racial violence and how to stand up to it. I might not share this book with very young children, but it would be appropriate for mid to upper elementary and older. Also a great read for parents, teachers, and other adults who want to address these issues with the children in their lives; see the discussion guide in the back to further support these important conversations.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
"How can you change the world?"
Racism is alive and horrible in America today despite our work in the 1960s and beyond. This well illustrated book tackles the problem that parents have in teaching their children about the things in the recent past and how they can help in their own way. There are
Keisha Morris fills the pages with meaningful illustrations which adds to the impact of this book of hope and history that impacts all Americans. All libraries need this book so we can all remember work together to create a better world together.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Flyaway Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Racism is alive and horrible in America today despite our work in the 1960s and beyond. This well illustrated book tackles the problem that parents have in teaching their children about the things in the recent past and how they can help in their own way. There are
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three full pages at the end that direct readers on how to bring meaningful discussions to others.Keisha Morris fills the pages with meaningful illustrations which adds to the impact of this book of hope and history that impacts all Americans. All libraries need this book so we can all remember work together to create a better world together.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Flyaway Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
40 p.; 10.75 inches
ISBN
1947888080 / 9781947888081