In our society we are taught that white means good. White is beautiful. White is pure. The good guy wears the white hat or rides the white horse. Brides wear white historically to show purity. Black is seen as the bad guy's hat or the color to wear when mourning. These messages are slowing leaving our society, but they still exist and send messages to our kids. I shared my heartbreaking story several years ago of witnessing a young Black girl say the white Barbie was prettier than the same Black Barbie. Same dress and everything but the skin color and hair color were different. It broke my heart. It is because of stories like this that I feel it is important to have books like I am sharing today. The two picture books for today are celebrating how amazing Black children are. The first one is Black Girl, Bloom Bright by Mahogany L. Browne and illustrated by Sawyer Cloud. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
Dear Black GirlYou teach the world
The power of creativity
Just by being yourself
Celebrate the creativity, bravery, dreams, and laughter of Black girls with this purposeful, powerful text from poet and author Mahogany L. Browne. With lush, bright illustrations from artist Sawyer Cloud, this picture book is perfect for honoring big milestones and finding joy in everyday moments—a heartwarming and jubilant love letter to Black girls everywhere.
From Me:
This book starts with a younger girl being with her friends and family. It talks about her creativity and how that can affect the world. It also mentions people like Faith Ringgold and Rosa Parks and talks about standing up for what is right. As the book goes on the young girl grows up. She is a leader and cares about others. She cares about her family--her parents and grandparents and honors them. She understands her own history and teaches others about it. She is simply beautiful!
I love how this book has so many everyday ties to the life of any girl but celebrates this girl being Black. She is beautiful, caring, strong and brave. It is the message young Black girls need to hear. It is truly a love poem to any Black girl. It let's them know they are special and deserve to be celebrated in this world.
Now Black girls are not the only ones to be celebrated! There is also Black Boy, Take Flight also by Mahogany L. Browne and illustrated by Sawyer Cloud. It is also recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
Dear Black BoyYou will teach the world
How to shine brightly
Just by being yourself
Celebrate the imagination, hard work, laughter, and dreams of Black boys with this expressive, empowering text from poet and author Mahogany L. Browne. With vibrant illustrations from artist Sawyer Cloud, this picture book is perfect for honoring big milestones and finding joy in everyday moments—a heartwarming and jubilant love letter to Black boys everywhere.
From Me:
In similar fashion this book is a love letter to Black boys! It starts with a younger boy and the boy ages through the book. It shares everyday life activities as well as dropping names like Langston Hughes and Hank Willis Thomas. It talks about the boy honoring his parents and grandparents. He is playful and fun and allowed to be truly himself. He is growing in size but also in knowledge and goals. He works hard and makes his family proud. There is even a graduation illustration. He does good deeds for others and so much more. It is a book truly honoring Black boys and letting them know they are loved.
This book is similar to the first but about the other gender. Both books have beautiful illustrations with diverse people and skin colors. The books make up the Black, Brown, and Beautiful series. They are wonderful for parents to read to their children, story time anywhere but also for gifts for various graduations, birthdays, and other times children are celebrated! These are powerful books to help counteract the societal stigmas of being Black. I hope every young Black person gets to read them or have these books read to them.
