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 would be a wonderful book to share with children who are asking about what is happening in our world at the moment.

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.

The book was a good read especially in the world climate. I would use this book to reach kids to talk about how they are feeling and what they can do to change the world. I would recommend this to any elementary school teacher!

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.

An incredibly timely and important book about police brutality and the persistence and patience required to live in the U.S. as a black or brown person. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

A beautiful book that was both empowering and sad. It's sad that we need such books to discuss with young black men, but I felt it was a great way to tackle some of the social injustices that are happening right now.
Some beautiful illustrations and I loved the fact that the protagonist was growing locs on this journey from boyhood.

A great discussion guide included in the end for educators to use in the classroom and parents to use at home.

Simple, beautiful, and powerful, this book tells of living through the current and past Black American experience. Seeing these terrible tragedies in the news and not being ready to talk. Seeing this through a tweens perspective helps explain painful events but also brings hope as we work to research, vote, and change the world around us. Also includes a discussion guide.