HOLD THEM CLOSE

“When happy things come to you / hold them close and never let go.”

Verse and mixed-media artwork blend for a work that aims to guide young Black readers to build resilience in a world that is too often violent and grossly unforgiving toward Black people. Thompkins-Bigelow goes on to encourage readers to hold on—“to the smile of that loved one / who just got free,” “to good tastes and good laughs on your tongue,” and “to the stories the grown / folks tell of your greatness.” Making inspired use of textures in the backgrounds, this comforting book has the look and feel of a quilt. Photographs of Black children taken by Shabazz as well as images of historical figures incorporated into the collage illustrations give the book the feeling of a family album. This celebration of Black culture covers the impact of racism honestly yet in an age-appropriate way; one especially noteworthy spread includes the photo of a child with head bowed opposite the names of the victims of racist violence, such as Trayvon Martin and Michelle Cusseaux, set against the wall of a building. Backmatter includes author’s and illustrator’s notes and additional information on people and topics alluded to in the book, among them Black Lives Matter, Jim Crow, lynching, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A love poem to Black children that both educates and bolsters.