THIS BOOK!!! *claps* This is a wonderfully written children's book with just the right amount of maturity that children can understand. It is an amazing conversation starter to discuss the Black Live Matters topic with young kids. It was cleverly written and thoughtful as well as infographic. I enjoyed all illustrations. My heartstrings tugged for the little boy in the book and his innocence.

Lesson: educate the young early, nurture their young minds into strong smart individuals. It is never too early for them to learn the hard truth, the world is ugly and unsafe, it is time they learn how to best protect themselves and others while maintaining their empathy and kindness.

Don't skip the author's note.

This is a great book to start conversations with your child. I will definitely be sharing this book with my own child.

Wow! This is a heartbreakingly beautiful picture book that discusses how to be a change-maker. Jeremiah, a young Black boy, notices all of the instances of hatred toward Black people. He asks his parents questions about who was killed and why, but doesn't want to talk about the events any further. As he feels weighed down by the overwhelming amount of hatred on display, he finally talks to his parents and asks what they can do to change the world and they make a plan to be change-makers together.

The author's note and discussion guide are chock full of valuable information to help guide conversations with children about race.

Right from the beginning I felt a part of this story. I was with a young Jerimiah in the kitchen with his mom and dad when his greatest dream was to grow locs. As the story continued I watched with sadness as Jerimiah learned of the injustice happening around him.- Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, the Charleston Nine, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Jordan Edwards and many more. He tried to make sense of it and watched as his parents did their part by joining peaceful protests, voting, organizing, and praying. They supported him as he tried to make sense of the senseless and model for him their belief that he, his sisters and friends will be able to bring positive change to our world.
The book ends with a discussion guide created by the Muhammad Ali Center. It includes resources to help lead deep discussions. It includes suggested readings of change makers to serve as role models.
I highly recommend this book for the home, the library and the classroom. It introduces a difficult subject with compassion and offers ways to create change. A change we very much need.

I liked but didn't love this book that offers a hopeful look at a future free from gun violence and racially motivated prejudice. Though the text was soaring and hopeful, I do feel that many issues affecting black communities were conflated in order to simplify the story.

This is a book that I wish did not need to be written, but I'm glad that for many black boys, it exists. This book is full of the horrors that impact all black people but our perspective is through the eyes of a little black boy named Jeremiah. Jeremiah, who starts growing locs at the beginning of the book, sees many black men and boys murdered throughout the growth cycle of his hair. It's quite depressing to see that in the span of what is likely two to four years, this child has witnessed the distressing, painful, and terrifying images of dead black men and boys who look like him on a frequent basis. Even more depressing is the fact that for some children, they've never known a world where there weren't images of unarmed black people being killed in the street on the evening news. Jeremiah is a bright, hopeful character. He is supported by his equally hopeful mother and father. I can only wish that Jeremiah's optimism and that of the little black boys who read this book rubs off on me.

As a white American mom, this book is going to be a part of MY antiracist learning library. I love the honest story of Jeremiah and his experience watching the terrible news about Black people being murdered by police. It's age-appropriate, unpacks hard to talk about realities, and is a great conversation starter for parents and their children. I especially like the conversation guide at the back of the book.

This is an important story to tell. It is a difficult subject to read about, but it also brings hope and action.

This was somehow crushing and spiritual at the same time! That a whole population of boys needs to hear this means that they've endured too much, too young. Somehow the author puts hope and light into these pages and I'm simply in awe!

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is a must-read for every parent of a Black boy, every teacher of a Black boy, every Black boy. The reality that we show our child how to be caring and strong is clearly painting in this beautiful and powerful story. Waters reminds us that we need to talk to our children and more importantly listen to them. When they need to and are ready to talk, we must listen. This book is powerful and relevant!

This book should be in every library, school, and home. It opens the door to discussion about the fact that what makes us human is not the color of our skin but the care we should all have for all human beings. The discussion guide is excellent and will help with a topic that needs to be talked about until we get it right. Our hopes for the future lie in the hearts and minds of our children. Read this book for yourself and your family.

This is a beautiful, well-written book from beginning to end. I love that the book begins with Jeremiah asking his father if he can grow locs and in the end he is able to make the connection that growing his hair takes time, just as social equality takes time.

It is important for everyone to be made aware of the differences in the way people are treated. It is important for everyone to know we are all the same inside but the differences outside make us special. The color of our hair, our height, our gender, the color of our skin. We are all special. It is important for everyone to know we HAVE to make changes, be the changes we want to see in the way we treat others.

I am thankful Mr. Waters has included a discussion guide, and sections about how to help prepare for the conversation, speaking about race in the classroom, and speaking about violence in the classroom. He also includes exploring change making, (in addition to discussing the book at home).

I was given the chance by NegGalley to read this book, in exchange for an honest review. I will be reading this book with my students first thing Monday morning. I will be leading the change I want to see in my community.

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is a beautiful hopeful book about what we can all do to fight injustice. This book honors that things can feel hopeless and difficult and it provides ways to talk about the problems (when kids are ready) in different settings.

Such an important story about how to speak to children about racism and police brutality in a way that's honest and open but not overwhelming. The illustrations are gorgeous and I love that the book gives suggestions for simple things that children can start doing to make the world better.

5/5 stars

Genre: Children's Fiction

Description:

Winner of the 2020 Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize for Social Justice
A Top Ten Selection of the 2021 In the Margins Book Awards

"Dad, what happened?"
"Why are they shooting?"
"What is this vigil for?"

The shootings keep coming, and so do Jeremiah's questions. Dad doesn't have easy answers, but that doesn't mean he won't talk about it—or that he won’t act. But what if Jeremiah doesn’t want to talk anymore? None of it makes sense, and he’s just a kid. Even if he wants to believe in a better world, is there anything he can do about it?

Inspired by real-life events, this honest, intimate look at one family’s response to racism and gun violence includes a discussion guide created by the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, a multicultural center and museum committed to promoting respect, hope, and understanding.

A portion of the publisher’s sales proceeds will be donated to nonprofit organizations that facilitate the empowerment of Black communities.

Pros:

- The artwork is fantastic.
- This book tackles a very real problem in today's world but does so in a kid-friendly way. My 8-year-old bonus daughter had no problems comprehending what was going on.
- This led to some amazing conversations about white privilege, racism, BLM and more.
- This book includes discussion guides for adults to use to talk to children in a classroom setting and at home.

Cons:

- Not a single thing. This is by far one of the best children's books I have ever read.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely!

An important, heart-wrenching, and beautiful story. The illustrations are clever, the story is touching and creates awareness about tough topics. This is an important starting-point to talks about police, gun violence, and racist attacks.

This book is a must read. The story follows Jeremiah and his family discussing their reactions to the racial injustices they hear on the news. The story reacts to the sad injustices of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Philando Castile (just to mention a few). The story was inspired by Walters experiences and his discussions with his own family.

The explanation of the events in this book are explained sensitively and briefly in a manner that children will be able to understand without giving them the details that are not appropriate for their range. It provides children with the feeling that being angry and upset about these events and provides parents and teachers with the space to explore and discuss children’s feelings about these issues.

The book also comes with discussion points at the end, which can be used to guide adults on how to properly address these issues. It provides a fantastic starting point and continued guidance on how to have these conversations in a world that isn’t always so kind to others because of the colour of their skin.

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is a beautiful book itself. As Jeremiah grows he notices the events happening in the world, events of pain and anger and injustice. He asks his parents about them and the parents respond openly and honestly but do not pressure Jeremiah to go into conversations he does not feel "ready for". Passing time is marked with references to events that made national and world news, and finally, as a teenager Jeremiah is ready not only to talk about these types of events, but to join in to change relationships so that they will become events no longer.
An excellent resource to assure youngsters that they don't have to talk until they are ready. The author provides teaching tips and activities in the back that will be welcomed by all adults who aren't sure how to discuss these topics with their own children or students.

Rating: 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!!!!!!!
Book: For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
Release Date: AVAILABLE NOW-Released September 20, 2020
Author: Michael W. Waters
Genre: Children's Fiction

Pure tears! Just the title of the book along pulled at my heartstrings. As I was reading this book and recalling all the true events that happened in the recent past-Trayvon, Michael Brown, Charleston Nine-and to see how it could have played out in a child’s perspective just broke my heart. The best thing about this book is the conversation that this family must have with the main character Jeremiah. The next best thing are the resources in the back of the book that help you have these conversations in your home or classroom or even just getting yourself in the best head space. While this book is classified as fiction, I would say it is realistic fiction because although the characters are not real the content is. This is a must read to all children maybe as young as 6 through middle school.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @FlyAwayBooks for an advanced copy of @ForBeautifulBlackBoys

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Jeremiah becomes aware of a pattern of people who are murdered based on prejudice against their skin color - HIS skin color. Jeremiah is scared and too upset to talk about it as first, but as he watches his parents take action, he begins to learn about things he can do to help make the world a better place. This is a heartbreaking and motivating story. I hate that a children's book like this even needs to exist, but it fills a crucial role in educating young children to take action when they see injustice. I think the book manages to tackle an extremely scary topic and touch on actual, real people who lost their lives, at an age-appropriate level. It would be a good idea for educators and parents to pause whenever Jeremiah "doesn't want to talk about it anymore" and explore what Jeremiah might be feeling or thinking, why he might not want to talk about it, etc. There is a guide in the back on how to use the book to discuss the topic with children that can be used as well.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.