Received this ARC via NetGalley.  The idea for this book is excellent, and there should be more books that deal with the idea of racism for younger children.  The book was beautifully illustrated, but I wanted more.  

Yes, it is a picture book, but we needed to feel more of a connection to Jeremiah.  The repetition of the line “he didn’t want to talk anymore” placed abrupt pauses in the story. If he didn’t want to talk, what was he thinking??  How was he feeling? This would have been better throughout, rather than toward the end of the book. If he believes in a better world, could we have seen his “better version” of each of the tragic and true events that are brought up throughout the story? So, he author could have still used, “Jeremiah didn’t want to talk anymore because he was thinking.” and then have illustrations depicting what he saw as a better alternative?

Also, I wish the author had found a way, either through words or illustrations, to better show the passage of time.  Time was brought up in the beginning in regards to Jeremiah growing locs. Aside from that instance, Jeremiah nor his family remark on the passage of time, nor the progress of his locs, aside from “one day later”. I think this would be important to elaborate upon, so that the reader understands the weight, severity, and nonstop cycle of racism, as opposed to isolated incidents that seem to happen in close chronology.

I guess I expected more from this book. It is definitely a great book for discussions, especially when used as a mentor text with older students.

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World is needed right now. It can be so easy to get discouraged by the events around us. This book reminds us that we can keep working to make the world a better place.

This is an important book, and one that makes me feel sad and angry that there was a definite need for it to be written. Excellent discussion guide included from the Mohammed Ali Centre in Louisville. This would be an excellent classroom resource and would prompt lots of questions and learning opportunities.

This picture book will become a part of my middle school library.  What a wonderful way to start a conversation about a difficult topic.  Regardless of age or skin color, I think everyone should read this story.  It shows time passing with the growth of Jeremiah's locs, but points out how many instances of violence occurred in a short period of time and it wasn't always about skin color.  Lovely story!  Thank you for sharing it with me so I may share it with others!

I loved this book. It is a must read book for anyone with a little kid in the world at this time. This book will help you teach little ones what is going on in the world right now.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC. This is a thoughtful book that gives hope that we can work to change the future for our “beautiful Black boys.” It tells the serious story of police killings, but in a gentle way that is age-appropriate. Will purchase for my library!

This book follows a young boy as his "locs" grow and he sees the world around him fighting. This is a great way to introduce hard racial topics with young students. This book also gives you questions and conversation starters to get the discussion going with your children.

Thank you for accepting my request to read this book. 

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World, is a book that belongs in every shelf in every home, and every classroom. The conversations are raw and truthful. so many of my own emotions resurfaced of growing up and not being able to understand why, and just like Jeremiah, not wanting to talk anymore. The pain that is caused by the murders of young black men and women seeps into our homes. Being exposed to the aftermath and imagines over and over is traumatizing, and lives within us. This book is a conversation we don’t know how to have. I am deeply grateful to the author Michael W. Waters for writing this book—we’re most defiantly starving for. I can’t wait to hold it, and for my siblings to read it.

This book was interesting because although it didn't go into gory detail. it did not shy away from violence against Black people.  Jeremiah is just a kid growing up with very informed parents, and he is constantly coming into contact with news of the murder of Black people - Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Philando Castille, community violence - all of which cause protests, vigils, and memorials to happen.  These incidents build and build in Jeremiah who doesn't want to talk and keeps it all inside.  When he is ready, his parents talk, his parents are there for him and they talk about channeling their emotions into positive, avenues.  This would be a very hard book to read at school, but it is a very real experience kids go through, so I respect the authors for putting it forward.  I also love the art by Keisha Morris.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flayaway Books for the access to the digital review copy.  This review is cross-posted to Goodreads and Instagram.

Thank you so much for letting me read this book! The images was amazing & I love the message this book talked about. I recommend this to everyone & every age because this is real life & it’s so important for people to know what’s going on & what part they can play to help bring peace. it’s a short read but very powerful! 5/5 stars!❤️

I was looking forward to reading this book, however the download never came through to my device, so I am sorry, but I cannot enter a review at this time.

A stunning book filled with wonderful images to accompany its marvellous words. This is truly an amazing book to help start conversations with children around racism and injustice. Thoroughly recommended to all!

I found this book to be really evocative despite its simple and clear writing. The messages in the book are raw yet child friendly. A true look at the effect that inequality has on a personal level. Love that this book is not just a story and that it is very real and has true facts throughout. The discussion guide is brilliant and the quotes from Muhammad Ali are inspirational. I think this book should be used in all classrooms to show the reality of inequality and empower children to stand up for what is right and be the change that the world needs.

Title: For Beautiful Black Boys who Believe in a Better World *****
by Michael Waters;  Illustrations by Keisha Morris

This book contains the sad truth about growing up Black in America today. And for a young boy, Jeremiah, the deaths of the Charleston nine, of Trayvon Martin ,and of Michael Brown do not make sense.  But, while it states the facts as they stand and as supported by statistics,  it is hopeful and is told with compassion and optimism that what isn’t right will somehow be made better through our actions, like voting, marching, praying, organizing and speaking out against injustice.

Beautifully illustrated in muted colors by Keisha Morris https://www.behance.net/keishamorris
Written by Michael Waters https://michaelwwaters.com

Thanks to #NetGalley for ARC of #ForBeautifulBlackBoyswhoBelieveinaBetterWorld #ForBeautifulBlackBoys #NetGalley

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Waters is a book about activism. It follows Jeremiah through the years as he learns from his parents about the violence happening against black and brown people. Through their discussions, Jeremiah determines how he, as a kid, can fight against injustice. 

I feel like during these days of protest, kids can sometimes feel like there's nothing they can do. This book does a great job of giving kids an idea of what they can do at their age to fight against injustice. A discussion guide from the Muhammad Ali Center is included at the back of the book. I think this would spark lots of discussion with kids whether it's at home or at school. It leaves a simple message that we need a better world, and the kids are our hope for the future. Raise them right! #ForBeautifulBlackBoys #netgalley

This book is a great one to guide young readers as they talk and learn about the current events of our world.  It talks of the importance of civic duty and standing up for what you believe.  This will make a great addition to libraries.

First, I would like to say I am a white woman with a black daughter-in-law that I happily welcomed into our family.  I am not a racist.

There are black people killed by white cops who didn't deserve it.  That is a fact, and it needs to be stopped.  We all agree on that point.

I am giving this book a bad review for two reasons.  The first is the insinuation that Michael Brown was just some innocent 18 year old who wanted to go to college.  The author could say that his son asked about Michael Brown before details were known about his behavior the night he was killed.  That may be, but the book still gives the impression to other young people that Michael Brown was innocent and not a convenience store thief who attacked a police officer and did not have his hands raised in the air when he was shot.  He was charging the policeman when he was shot.

The second reason I am giving this book one star is that this book is on racism and the insinuation is that white people are the ones shooting guns in black neighborhoods forcing families to hide in hallways.  I worked with a young black girl who moved from Milwaukee because it was so dangerous, and she was afraid of getting shot in her home because of black gang violence.  She told me bullets were going into houses on a regular basis.  

The majority of black shootings are black on black.  I would like to see a book written by a black person imploring other black people to stop that violence.

A very timely book. I thought it was a bit cheesy, but I still think it is an important book kids should read so they better understand important issues like racist violence and killings.

The cover and title are gorgeous. The concept for this is excellent and necessary  and painful. The art and depiction of the family is beautiful. The execution to me was disappointing. The writing was eh, and the voice - especially of the kiddo, wasn’t there for me. Grateful this exists but hope more people take a go at this content &framing and that publishers keep putting more work like this out. I think it can be done better and in a way that kids can hear themselves in it even more. I did appreciate that there was a resources section at the end. I wish teaching tolerance didn’t always get the first nod (I’ve found teaching for change and zinn to be more progressive and beyond .. tolerance). But having a resource section is clutch for a book like this so I’m glad it was there and it had a lot going for it. 

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As the news plays on the television in the background young Jeremiah ask his Dad, "Who's that?"..."What did he do?"..."Why is he lying in the middle of the street?" 

Trayvon Martin
Michael Brown 
Alton Sterling 
Philando Castile
Jordan Edwards
Charleston Nine

Those are their names.
Being Black...That's what they did.
Racism and Injustice...That's why they are no longer here with us.

Jeremiah's Dad begins explaining these things to Jeremiah, always ending in, "It doesn't make sense...None at all." But Jeremiah is not quite ready to talk about it.

When Jeremiah is ready to talk about what is going on in our communities today, his parents are ready to have the conversation. Are you ready?

This book will help you prepare to have this much needed conversation with your children, your students, and any young person in your life. Included after the story is a Discussion Guide by the Muhammad Ali Center. This guide will prepare you on how to establish a space space to speak about race, as well as further the discussion by exploring ways we all can all make change. By voting, marching, organizing, speaking, writing, praying, and loving we can change the world!