I wanted to share a new children’s book called Black Girl Rising Written by Brynne Barnes. Illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh which I received a copy of in exchange for this review.
This weekend for the first time ever my niece Lily and my nephew Jason will be spending the night. Were going to Camp Out in our home in my son’s room. David is even taking the day off to be with us. I asked the kids to bring a story book to read that evening before bed.
I can’t wait to share Black Girl Rising with Lily because with a girl on the cover I thought the boys might not want to hear this story. But as I sat down to read the book Charlie sat with me and by the time we finished the story Charlie couldn’t stop telling me how much he enjoyed the story and that Jason would like it as well.
Throughout the story the illustrations captured our attention and we had so much fun talking about the pictures and what they meant not only to the girls in the book but to us. I believe this book isn’t only for children but adults as well who will learn lessons they didn’t know they needed to hear just as my family did.
Charlie remined me the story was almost a poem in movement. We discussed how we can use the book in our Homeschool Art Class and also for spelling as there were words in the book Charlie wasn’t sure of. But I enjoyed seeing Charlie being able to read this picture book on his own and even help David read the book to me while I sat and listened which doesn’t happen very often as I am the one who usually reads to them.
This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world.
You are a thousand curls
unfurling in your hair.
You are a thousand fists
standing proudly in air.
You are the song of swallows,
lifting sun as they sing—
breaking light with their beaks,
breaking sky with their wings . . .
Black girlhood is beautiful! In this deeply moving celebration and rallying cry, and in the face of the many messages that still work to convince Black girls that they should shrink themselves, hide their light, know their place, Brynne Barnes and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh reclaim that narrative: A Black girl’s place is everywhere, and her selfhood is everything she can dream it to be.
With poignant, poetic prose and striking, color-drenched illustrations, this empowering picture book centers the inherent worthiness and radiance of Black girls that is still far too often denied. A love letter to and for Black girls everywhere, Black Girl Rising alchemizes the sorrow and strength of the past into the brilliant gold of the future, sweeping young readers of all backgrounds into a lyrical exploration of what it means to be Black, female, and glorious.
EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES SELF-LOVE: This uplifting anthem of Black brilliance shuts out invalidating messages and replaces them with unconditional assertions of Black girls’ rights to be loved, to be inspired, and to exist fully in their power. Everything about Black girls deserves to be seen and celebrated—and this picture book provides a welcome opportunity for readers of all ages to do so!
MAKES A GREAT GIFT: From graduation to birthdays to other key milestones, this book makes a perfect present for consumers looking to celebrate, empower, and inspire the women in their lives—whether daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins, or friends.
EXCELLENT READ-ALOUD: Warm, loving sentiments paired with poetic prose and a light rhyme make this picture book a great choice to read aloud together at story time, bedtime, or any time. It’s sure to become a fast favorite and inspire countless moments of parent-child connection.
Perfect for:
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
• Teachers and librarians
• Readers who loved Hair Love and Little Leaders
• The vast #WeNeedDiverseBooks community
• Anyone seeking books about Black joy, female empowerment, or Black history
• Gift-givers looking for a unique and inspiring book for the girls (or women) in their lives
About Brynne Barnes
Brynne Barnes knows a secret: the whole world is a giant coloring book and the most beautifully potent crayons are words, laughter, and song. Since earning her B.S. from the University of Michigan and M.A. from Eastern Michigan University, she has been coloring the world with her pen writing stories, poetry, and music. She has taught composition, creative writing, and children’s literature at several colleges and universities.
Her first picture book, Colors of Me, was named a 2012 Gelett Burgess Award Winner for First Published Book, 2012 Friends of American Writers Award Winner for Juvenile Literature and was named an Award-Winning Finalist in the Hardcover Fiction Category of The USA “Best Books 2011” Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. Books Do Not Have Wings is her second picture book and was named a 2016 ABC Best Books for Young Readers. Visit her online at www.brynnebarnes.com.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
