Preschool Book Review: Black Boy, Black Boy, a Joyful Black History Picture Book

Want to add more diverse picture books to your classroom this year? 

Discover Black Boy, Black Boy, a beautifully illustrated children’s book with an uplifting message for all young children.

This is the perfect picture book if you’re looking for inspirational stories that will resonate with all the students in your preschool classroom.

Not convinced yet?

How about you listen to my interview with the authors, Jorge Redmond and Ali Kamanda? I’m sure they would be able to convince you.

Well then, what are you waiting for?

Let’s dive in!

Meet Jorge and Ali, Writers of Black Boy, Black Boy

Jorge Redmond and Ali Kamanda wrote Black Boy, Black Boy together.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

Jorge was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He currently works as an Assistant District Attorney and as an adjunct professor of Legal Studies at South College. 

Ali was born and raised in Sierra Leone in West Africa. Currently, he works for Southern Rising, an NGO that aims to empower people in enterprise.

Ali and Jorge met at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They soon found themselves becoming friends, brothers even. And they stayed in touch and close ever since then. 

Their close friendship resulted in 2022’s best picture book, Black Boy, Black Boy.

About Black Boy, Black Boy

Black Boy, Black Boy is a joyful black history picture book that depicts and celebrates important moments in black history. It highlights black historical figures that aren’t usually highlighted.

As a picture book, it’s the perfect mirror for little black boys to see themselves and dream about what they could be in the future.

All the stories are inspirational, and the book aims to encourage black boys everywhere to become leaders and build a bright future for themselves and their communities.

Jorge and Ali say that the inspiration for this book was their own sons. They wanted to give them hope in a world where children who look like them aren’t given much. 

As Jorge says in the episode above, the book is a way for him and Ali to show little black boys the world the way they want them to see it, full of hope, courage, and inspiration.

Why You Need This Book in Your Preschool Classroom

One thing I hear from teachers, and sometimes even parents, that can be a little off putting is: “There are no children of color in the classroom, so there’s no need to read books with diverse characters.”

However, based on everything that I’ve experienced in the world, and the many different people I’ve interviewed, the exact opposite is true. 

We need books that discuss diversity and equity in the classroom. Because not only do books act as mirrors to show us people like us, but they also act as windows that can show us how the world works for others. And it’s always, always a good idea to have windows for children from which they can look at other perspectives and points of view.

Jorge and Ali on Helping Young Black Boys Thrive

One of the historical figures we encounter in Black Boy, Black Boy is a black inventor (you’ll have to read the book to find out who it is), and I was ashamed of finding out I didn’t know about him.

You see, our culture focuses mostly on white historical figures. When you think of a scientist, you automatically think of someone like Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison. We don’t think of a scientist of color, and that is something that can change with picture books like Black Boy, Black Boy. 

This book can help young black boys thrive.

Ali, Jorge, and I discuss the book in more depth in the interview above, so, if you’d like to learn more, make sure to give it a listen!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Get Black Boy, Black Boy by Jorge Redmond and Ali Kamanda

Check out my Diverse Picture Book List