This is an amazingly powerful book! It gave me chills just doing a deep dive into the allegory and meaning of the book. I will most definitely be buying this for our library and gifts for other educators.

Jeremiah, a young Black boy, asks his dad if he can grow locs like his mom's. His dad agrees and Jeremiah hopes that soon - like in a week - he'll have locs. His dad tells him that it'll take a long time to grow his locks, but if he waits and believes, it will happen. Throughout the book, Jeremiah learns about the deaths of numerous unarmed Black men killed by police, and also about police officers killed in the line of duty. He learns that it's okay to work for change in honor of all of the lives lost to racial bias and discrimination. As his locs grow, he grows, too. He finds that he can create change by voting, marching, praying, through community organization, and speaking out against injustice. Just like locs take a long time to grow, change is often slow. But, through our actions, we can change the world.

Absolutely loved this book! It is filled with heartbreaking images but it also filled with love and hope. I was moved by the parents' responses. I was also moved by their consistency in not allowing hate to grow in their children's hearts. Not an easy task to do when you are surrounded by actions filled with hate. Poignant and relevant, this book is a beautiful message that will stay with you long after you have read it. Bravo!!!!!!

5 stars!

I have a lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face. No, I'm probably not the target audience for this book, but man, it hit me in the gut. It's a beautifully illustrated book very appropriate for young children to learn about social injustice in this world, and while it is currently not in their control (or in their parents' control), there are things they can do and have been doing to make the future better for their kids. The author was inspired by actual events during his son's childhood where his son would ask about why things were happening. The author's hope is that this book inspires adults and children to do those things--vote, march/proptest, pray, organize people in the community, speak out against injustice--and envision a time when people will love those around us. This is a book that should be in every Elementary school library, in the classroom, and in churches.

FTC Disclosure: Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Beautiful picture book that addresses some of the tragic events on the news. Encourages individuals in ways to change the world.

A good title that doesn't mask the horror of what's happening in the world, but explains it calmly and matter-of-factly. The main theme of change taking time hits home as we, in the real world, still wait for that change to start happening.

This is a quiet powerhouse of a book. Framing the timeline around Jeremiah's locs was a great way to show that passage of time for young children. The discussion guide at the end has some wonderful tools for families and educators.

For libraries: You won't be disappointed to have this in your library.

This book is an incredibly important resource for having an incredibly difficult, but necessary conversation with children of all backgrounds living in with system racism.

a book with a powerfull message of hope. even with all the chaos we're surrouded by, there's always a little light inside each one of us that can be used for the good.

waters did a great job, i highlly recomend "for beautiful boys who believe in a better world" <3

This book explores the response to racism and gun violence within Black families by providing a proactive context for the question, "What can we do?" Jeremiah's family expresses pain, disappointment, fear, and resilience with beautiful illustrations to reinforce both their distress and strength. Sensitive topics are discussed in an age-appropriate way, with no pictures or descriptions of violence. I would use this book with young children as a read-aloud or older children for independent reading. Powerful and timely!

This book was easy to read and hard to read all at once. The story flows well, and the style is accessible to many levels. The pictures add depth to the family tale and serve to immerse the reader and create sympathetic characters. The content, on the other hand, is difficult. It is hard to understand why some things happen. It’s hard to grapple with the underlying prejudices that created these scenarios. It’s immensely difficult to sort the “what if” and the “why?” of each family experience. But I think that makes the book all the more necessary to read. To exist. We need to wrestle with these issues. We need to have solutions and not just more head scratching and “thoughts and prayers.” I hope this book leads to better.

In reviewing this text, I must acknowledge that I am a White woman and not subjected to the same feelings or oppressive forces as Jeremiah or his family. That said, I will acknowledge that I come from a group that comprises the vast majority of our teaching force, and we have an obligation to address the issues raised in this book.

The best part of the book are the various discussion guides at the back of the text. Questions are categorized by conversational context and would greatly assist people new to the conversation or less comfortable with engaging in social justice conversation.

The text introduces concepts of injustice to early grades without giving too many specifics. I only have 2 complaints for this text: 1) the text does not acknowledge the role of women, the founders of BLM and also frequent victims of brutality; and 2) the compression of events, making it seem as if many of the events mentioned in the text happened within a much shorter span of time. Considering that this book is geared to a younger readership, I question whether they will have ever heard of some of the victims mentioned as they may have been born the year some of the victims passed.

The artwork is well done ( especially pages 12 and 15) and shows a loving, yet concerned family. I would still absolutely recommend this text as a conversation starter, but it may be too little for those already engaged in the Work.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Michael Waters shares in his author's note that this story arises from experiences of his own family and his own son's questioning of events. In the book, Jeremiah hears about incidents of racism and gun violence and is not ready to talk. But he watches and listens, and when he does finally come to his parents with questions, they are there for him. The things Jeremiah plans to do - march, pray, donate money, stand up to stop bullies - are all things that children can do.

The discussion guide provided in the back matter will be useful to both teachers and parents as they try to help children make sense of what they see in the news or in their neighborhoods. Young people reading the book may have questions about the various incidents mentioned in the story, which are all real events that can be researched. Adults should read the book first and make use of the discussion guide to be sure they are ready when those young readers come to them with questions.

This timely, moving book follows Jeremiah and his family as they address issues of racism and violence. It is beautifully illustrated and the writing is straightforward - a great book to help us talk about these difficult subjects with children. I appreciate that the author wrote the names of some of the victims of gun violence and police brutality; we need to remember the people.

Jeremiah hears the names and asks why they are important. He sees protests and asks why. He hears about police officers killed and asks why. And each time he asks, his father answers. This is powerful stuff, to be able to ask and to receive answers. It ends on a hopeful note, but not necessarily a rosy one. We are going to have to do some hard work to solve issues of inequity and violence.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really good story for starting the conversation about police brutality and racism. I think it would be especially good for non-Black children and it makes the perfect addition to an anti-racist children's reading list.

This picture book is great for any age but especially elementary age kids. It's a great book to have in a classroom for discussion on how to treat one another.

A simply told and beautifully illustrated introduction to the complex concepts of racism, racist violence, and activism for a better world. Using his own son's innocent curiosity about the events unfolding as he grows up, the author gently exposes these difficult concepts for children in a way that encourages questioning and, ultimately, action. An author's note and detailed teaching/discussion guide are provided to help educators and parents further this important discussion with children.

This was a beautifully written and illustrated story which helps explain why there are marches to protest the many injustices that Black Americans have had to endure, particularly the senseless violence and police shooting that have occurred in our recent history. I love how the book talks about how people need to organize and work together in order to bring about true change in America. As an elementary school teacher, I appreciated the discussion questions because this is a topic that needs to be discussed; however, it is really difficult to talk especially with younger children. I know I have had many discussions in my home with my sons, but this is so hard to talk about in a classroom setting because I don’t want to frighten my students. I appreciate the efforts being made to help bring about meaningful conversations which I pray will lead to much needed reforms and changes in our country.

This is a beautiful, sweet book of a little boy and his family. Through his father's eyes, Jeremiah learns of the injustices done to black youth over the last few years, beginning with the death of Trayvon Martin. Each time he learns the truth incidents such as that of Trayvon's death and other innocents victims, Jeremiah feels afraid and does not wish to talk about it. Until one day he attends a vigil for Jordan Edwards, and it sets his thoughts in motion until he decides he is ready to talk with his parents to see what role he can play to help the world be a better place and not hiding from truth and sad realities.

The message in this book is one of inspiration, and is based on beliefs voiced by Martin Luther King; that we not judge people by the color of their skin instead of the basis of their character. It is a timely story, and I look forward to carrying this message/book forward into my own school library.

Jeremiah is young and curious as he observes his family reading the news and watching the television. So he begins to ask questions.
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Why are they shooting? Why is that man lying in the street? Why would someone shoot when he had his hands in the air?
Hard questions as Jeremiah begins to realuze that hate exists out there. It just doesn’t make sense, especially to an innocent kid. He wants to believe in a better world, is there anything he can do about it?

Inspired by real-life events and the names we all recognize, this Is an honest, intimate look at one family’s response to racism and gun violence. The illustrations are beautiful and compliment the text.

You will also find a very helpful and practical discussion guide created by the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, a multicultural center and museum committed to promoting respect, hope, and understanding. The guide is for classroom use as well as one you can at home with your own family.

A portion of the publisher's sales proceeds are being donated to nonprofit organizations that facilitate the empowerment of Black communities.

This is a powerful book and timely