This was a terrific book and I highly recommend you read it. It touches on current events surrounding racial injustice, gun violence, the need for people to rise up and have their voices heard, and for communities to come together to create the change we need in this world. The only reason I marked that I wouldn't use this book in my classroom is that I teach littles who aren't developmentally ready for the themes in this book. If I taught older elementary students, I would definitely have this in my class library.

This picture book is about Jeremiah. On the first page, he asks his parents if he can grow his hair in locs, they agree but remind him that the locs are a long term project. Each subsequent page shows Jeremiah talking to his parents about a number of different racially based incidents-the shooting of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, gang shootings, the shooting at the Mother Emmanuel church in South Carolina. Each time, Jeremiah doesn't want to talk about it. And then one day he does. His parents offer a number of suggestions for how to fight racism. This is a wonderful book for opening conversations about racial injustice and strategies to solve that.

The illustration is amazing and story is beautifully written. I enjoyed reading this book and feel that everyone should read it as well. A great conversation starter. Jeremiah wants to grow locs thinking he will have them the following week. How cute is that. LOL! This was not a story just about tragic events. It provides a timeline of events based on the growth of Jeremiah's dreads. I didn't catch this at first, but I caught on to it in the end. He may question the event, but he didn't want to talk about it. It takes time for a kid to comprehend it all and when it does they will be ready to talk. Don't give up! Vote! Play your part! Speak up and speak out!

Michael W. Waters has crafted a touching book that will resonate with parents as well as their children, regardless of race. Coupled with the splendid illustrations by Keisha Morris, the prose in "For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World," as in "Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice," provides a good way to explain the bad things that disproportionately touch children of color and to explain the protests that are building toward that better world.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Flyaway Books in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I read a digital advance copy of this book, which will release in a few days (September 22, 2020).
You may assume that the title says it all, but far from it. Also, do not assume it is ONLY for Black Boys, since that's what the title says. I'll get back to that after the review below.
The story opens when young Jeremiah asks his parents if he can grow locs. They are smilingly supportive, with a caution about how patient and responsible he will need to be in order to achieve the desired results for a challenging goal.
That sets the visual cuing and the theme that follows as each page turn reveals ways in which Jeremiah (with changes in his slow-growing hair barely noticeable) asks either/both his mom or dad about some news he has noticed. These news and observations are generally about a Black life that was lost during an interaction with police, but also include protests and the deaths of police officers. In each case his parents are shown engaging with public events- as speakers, as protestors, as organizers, marchers, and active community members.
In each discussion with Jeremiah, his parents are alert as to how much Jeremiah wants/needs to know. One scene that could feel overwhelming, but will ring true for some, includes gunshots in their neighborhood, with the family huddled in an interior hallway. Even there, they talk through what is happening and why and what can be done to provide security and lead to changes.
As Jeremiah's hair is growing into locs, and as he is growing into broader understanding of the ways these events connect with his own life, he shifts from a pattern of indicating his need to stop talking about it to actively seeking more information. His parents help him realize the many ways in which he can engage, even before being old enough to vote. Change is challenging, but building a "Better World" takes patience and attention and care, and Jeremiah seeks that role.
I have no idea how long it takes to turn close-cut natural hair into shoulder length locs, but I'm guessing that the illustrator (and author) intended this to span a year or more.
There is so much that makes this book perfect, as the title says, FOR BEAUTIFUL BLACK BOYS WHO BELIEVE IN A BETTER WORLD: an intelligent and aware Black boy, parents who model the actions he will later choose to support, sensitivity to youthful interest in and tolerance of harsh realities, and illustrations that make the characters feel authentic to their racial and cultural identities but also present them as empathetic and familiar in countless ways.
Here's my comment about the intended audience for this book.
Yes, I believe this will be welcomed by BLACK BOYS and their families, but the truth is it invites readers and discussions with girls and others of all races. I also urge parents and teachers get this book and read it for themselves as a handbook on how adults can and should support young people through traumatic social events. Then, I urge them to share this book across MANY ages and gatherings, from families to classrooms to libraries to churches, as a way to encourage honest discussion and constructive planning for actions that can provide us all with a BETTER 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.

I was very glad to read For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World. No matter the color of your skin or your age, you can find hope and beauty in this book that is at once heartbreaking and uplifting. It is a fantastic catalyst for discussion, and I appreciate the guide at the end of the book as well as the "explore change-making" information. We all need to explore making change in this world, and this country. As for the illustrations, while I tend to like softer lines, I found the sharper angles fit the subject matter. And the eyes ... the eyes of the characters where so filled with expression, almost alive.

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.

Great illustrations, touches lightly on many issues without being pushy. Excellent conversation starter!

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.