We are free, you & me

PreS-Gr 2--Everyone not only has the right to be free, but also has the right to be empowered in that freedom. Created by the husband-and-wife team behind Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC), this book is a love letter to all children, and its intent is to inspire and encourage youth to stand up for their rights in every situation. Using colorful imagery and poetic language, this title follows a family whose members all have brown skin throughout a day in their welcoming and diverse neighborhood. Though the narrative is more of a list of reminders instead of following a traditional plot, each page blends the text with the images in a way that will resonate with readers. Varying font sizes and placement enhance the visual appeal of the book, and readers will enjoy investigating the detail found in each image. At the end of the book, a note provides insight into the authors' decisions and the intent of the book itself, which will inspire conversation and further investigation beyond what's on the page. Additionally, the endpapers proudly display the primary tenets of the KYRC mission and emphasize the messages found within the narrative itself. Filled with positivity, this book serves as a beacon of hope that "another world…is on her way." VERDICT This is a powerful and accessible invitation for readers of all ages to embrace and support the freedom inherent to all.--Mary R. Lanni

Activist and athlete Kaepernick and his partner, radio and TV personality Diab, introduce young readers to the idea of universal rights. Positive affirmations abound as children are told about their various freedoms: to move and play, to be safe, to live, to speak, and even to grow. Jose's illustrations follow two young Black children taking part in a variety of activities alongside members of their diverse community: building a playground, painting a mural featuring an image of Malcolm X, playing music and dancing, and protesting in front of a school. Writing in rhyming verse, the authors set an optimistic tone: "Your truth is your strength, like the roots of a tree." They acknowledge that "life can be tough, and not always fair" but urge young readers to persist. The cartoonish visuals tend toward the predictable, often directly reflecting the text; as the authors encourage youngsters to "weather the storm on your path and not stray," the accompanying images show a child gazing up at dark clouds and hunkering down under a folded newspaper held by a loving parent. Still, Kaepernick and Diab's simple but resonant words are ideal for sparking conversation among youngsters. In their authors' note, they discuss Know Your Rights Camp, the nonprofit they founded to further the well-being of Black and brown communities; the book ends with the organization's 10 tenets. An upbeat and informative book for the next generation's littlest leaders.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.