What a great current events book for my students! This will be a great lead in to discussing the events that are currently going on at this moment. Its factual, the storyline is good and the artwork is colorful and impressive. The story even lists current names that are setup relevant to the racial movement against the police. It would have been great if somehow Breonna Taylor could be added so that the story could include black women.

This is a wonderful book that hears the questions of a young, Black child about the tragic cases of injustice towards Black young men in the news. His father patiently responds in the most comforting manner. The book is a great avenue to open dialogue in families as they struggle with this difficult issue.

In reading the first couple of pages of For Beautiful Black Boys , I felt burned by the weight of Black males killed by racist violent police officers and assailants. As I continued to read, the burden gradually lifted as Jeremiah thought about the pandemic of racialized violence and gleans from his father's activism, speaking at a rally and vigil. Jeremiah asks questions and makes statements about the newspaper article and televised news report. Jeremiah doesn't fully express himself until he gains insight from his parents and community.. The father and mother offers their son wisdom in how to foster restorative justice in diverse ways.

What is immediate in the story is the love and knowledge that the parents instill in Jeremiah and his sisters' lives. The narrative thread of Jeremiah growing locks was brilliant. The locks symbolize Black beauty and Black empowerment. Black folks with locks were often criticized by school administrators and employers because it didn't align to western standards of white beauty. Morris' illustrations compliments the story. The fusion of drawings and collage allows readers to follow the trajectory of Jeremiah's sense of social justice. The Author's Note and Discussion Guide provides a context for readers to understand Waters' agenda of restorative justice for Black boys, for Black people. Black boys who read this picture book will help them understand that violence and racism could be challenged. They can discover their potential in bringing this reality into fruition.

I randomly clicked on this book, thinking it might be a good addition to my diverse classroom library. I had no idea what beauty was lying ahead for me. "For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World" is a fantastic text that I honestly believe needs to be in every classroom. Walters is able to elegantly deal with current events that make most grown adults cringe. Once, getting into the book I was worried perhaps a clear stance would be taken and it would cause waves through parents. This book is on all sides/ the best side that we all just want a better world for all children. I loved the honesty and emotion written throughout this book. It is seriously essential literature now with the Black Lives Matter Movement taking full force. I can not say enough good things about this book. I will be using this in my classroom no matter what grade I am assigned to. I can also see myself using this text as a mentor text in writing.

I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley.
This will become a go to book for talking about racism with elementary and middle grade children. Jeremiah asks about news reports about people who have died. His father explains what he can and lets Jeremiah set the pace for discussion. The illustrations show Jeremiah growing up through the story. Finally, when he's ready, he asks his parents to explain and answer his questions.
Waters provides answers that can be processed by elementary and middle grade readers.
The included Discussion Guide is powerful and should help adults engage in meaningful discussion.

simply beautiful. This #picturebook made me cry.
📰
Jeremiah has questions as he reads the news over his father’s shoulder or sees it on TV. Black men & women are dying and he doesn’t know why. He’s just a kid and he doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s not until things reach a boiling point that Jeremiah goes to his parents and asks why. His dad doesn’t have the answers, but tells his son ways to help: voting, marching, praying. Together we can make this world better for the next generation.
📰
I was shook reading this. As someone who doesn’t have children of my own I can’t imagine the conversations that need to take place or how to go about them. Waters does an amazing job of showing exactly how to do that and productive and positive ways to facilitate change. This is inspired by a true story of the #author and his son. Gun violence and racism can’t be fixed until we stand up and use our voices. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC. All ages buy this #book September 22.

When looking at books for the lower elementary age group that deal with racism, you typically find two kinds: the kind where we all need to celebrate our differences and the kind that talk about significant people from the past who have fought against inequality. I have been looking for books that would help teachers and families talk about the reality of police brutality in a way that is sensitive for younger kids, but still fosters the conversation. I have really only found one other book so far (Something Happened in Our Town), so I'm very glad to have another title to add to the list. I think this handles the discussion of the violence in a way that kids can understand and is real, but not so detailed that it feels like too much for the age. I think the "Jeremiah didn't want to talk anymore" refrain was a bit unnecessary, but this is a wonderful book to add to any collection and help provide a mirror and a window for our students.

The illustrations in this book are outstanding and in a picture book that is paramount. They help to tell the story in ways that text alone can not. I like the way we can watch Jeremiah’s locs grow as the story proceeds.
The message is a good one, but all those murders gathered in one unrelenting list is certainly a heavy load for a picture book to carry. I see this as a book to be read between a parent and child with pauses along the way for discussion. I think it would be less effective in a classroom setting where there might not be time for the nuanced conversation these events deserve.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book to read and review

Michael Waters’ book should be in all school libraries, as well as in any home with children. He writes about the horrific murder of Black people in a way that is accessible to children. The story focuses on the love and support of Jeremiah’s family and discusses the problem and solutions in an honest way that encourages discussion and reflection.

If you are a parent or educator, please preorder this picture book (available in September)! It shows the impact that violence has on a child and how that makes him want to effect change to make the world a better place. The author includes a discussion guide to help an adult learn to approach a discussion about violence and race in the classroom.
We educators have a responsibility to allow for honest conversations surrounding race and violence to help today’s children better understand their rights and emotions, so that they act with empathy in a meaningful, impactful way to change the injustice and inequality.

I’m rating this four stars for the book because it is so brief, but five stars for the intent. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Advanced readers copy provided courtesy of #netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Michael W. Waters' new picture book addresses the scary, unjust and incomprehensible deaths and violence against black men in our society from a child's point of view. Keeping the text simple and sparse with his parents explaining to him what he is seeing and hearing about is powerful. I appreciate the strong family unit portrayed and how the parents are supportive and wait for Jeremiah to come to them when he is ready to talk and then are gentle but straight-forward in trying to help him understand. Ultimately, it is an honest portrayal of American racism and gun violence, and a hopeful message of the ways that individual citizens can be part of the movement to make the world better. This will be a great addition to any home, classroom or library willing to be open and honest with children and begin the conversation about racism and social justice action. Good resources and discussion guide in the back for parents and teachers.

This book discusses some incredibly painful realities of our world without directing blame or increasing the "us vs. them" mentality that plagues our modern society. Instead, it echos the sentiment that too many people have been getting hurt for too long (and their skin color is an obvious common factor and no coincidence) and things need to change. More than that, it has concrete steps that everyone can take to make the world better. The book itself ends on a note of hope and empowerment. It's a powerful read.

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is a timely, beautiful, impactful book. The book was filled with emotion and beauty. There was a range of emotions presented and everything was accepted. Jeremiah hears and sees about all that was going on in the world and he wasn't ready to talk about it. I so appreciated this perspective. This book is a must have for classrooms this fall.

A well thought out and necessary read for young people to help understand and try and make sense of what is happening in the world. A very current and relevant read.

What an important book to add to my Media Center's collection. The message is so timely and so clear. The additional questions at the end adds to the necessity of beginning the discussion of equality and concern about all people. The theme to change the world is one that reverberated throughout the book is so necessary for all but the idea that youth can accomplish this is so true.

A great picture book that speaks to the terrible tragedies that are happening in world with the Black community. Each time something terrible happens Jeremiah's parents try to speak about it, but he isn’t ready to talk. By the end he is ready to talk, and listen. They discuss as a family ways they can help make the world a better place, like voting, organizing, praying, donating money to important and relatable causes, etc. It includes a wonderful discussion guide at the end of the book, which was created by the Muhammad Ali Center. I think this book will be great for families and for educators to share with their students!

With strong and positive themes of family and civic responsibility, this book introduces and/or reminds readers about the recent history of race based crimes in America. (Specifically, the Black Lives Matter Movement) In a delicate and age appropriate manner, we meet Jeremiah and see how he experiences these events over an extended period of time. This book would be extremely beneficial for children wanting and mature enough to learn more about the Black Lives Matter Movement and how they can become involved as a young person. A detailed discussion guide is included at the back.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this book. It was absolutely incredible. It is the first picture book that I have seen that addresses the issues going on today. I appreciated the discussion guide at the end of the book which would help to facilitate these uncomfortable yet very important discussion.

I've read this book several times and have ended up in tears each time. Waters has managed to capture the feelings of a child, to point out of painfulness of news we hear too often, and to end on a powerful, life-giving note. This is not a book to read for fun. It's also definitely a book for adults to share with children. Jeremiah's thoughtful realization of things he can do, even as a child, is powerful. And I appreciated that prayer was included as a real, tangible action.

My only minor quibble: while I'm very glad the five police officers killed in Dallas were included, I wish Waters had included the same refrain he used several times, "That makes no sense at all." While the focus is on violence against Black people, this shooting too made no sense. And that seems to be the ultimate point.

The final section, with suggestions on how to use the book and how to address the issues it raises, will increase the impact of this book. May it be a catalyst for change.

Review based on an ARC received through NetGalley.

This is a beautifully illustrated, well written picture book about a young black boy who keeps hearing about confusing, scary and unjust deaths of black folks, along with violent events like shootings in their neighborhood and the shootings of police officers. Each time he asks what happened, his parents explain what happened to that person (such as Trayvon Martin, the Charleston Nine and Michael Brown) in simple terms and each time he is not ready to talk about it. Finally, he is ready to talk about it and they discuss all the ways they can help make a better world (voting, praying, marching, speaking out, organizing, giving money to important causes, etc.). The end includes a very helpful guide for discussing race and violence in the classroom and at home. The book was written by a black father for his son and it is a moving picture book that helps explain the Black Lives Matter movement for children and how we can make things better.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.