Awards and Honors2019 Kirkus Prize Finalist
2019 National Book Award Longlist Kirkus Best Books - 2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books - 2019 SLJ Best Books - 2019 Horn Book Fanfare - 2019
NPR’s Book Concierge - 2019
CPL Best Books - 2019
CSMCL Best Books - 2019
2020 Newbery Honor Book
2020 Caldecott Medal Winner
2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award Winner
NCTE’s 2020 Notable Poetry List
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present.
Author’s note. Further information on people and events in book. Full-color illustrations.
This category provides 12 books per year that offer positive messages and spark thoughtful discussions about such things as ethics, kindness, and loyalty.