Glow by Ruth Forman Illustrator: Geneva Bowers
Published by Little Simon on May 4, 2021
Genres: Board Book, Contemporary
Pages: 26
Source: The Publisher
My rating:
A joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to the beautiful light of African American boys.
I shine night too smooth brown glow skin
This simple, playful, and elegant board book stars a young boy who joyfully celebrates his dark skin with a bright moon at the end of a perfect day.
I wanted to feature a book that celebrates the beauty of being Black for Juneteenth, and this book does exactly that. It’s incredibly simple and sweet, told in the voice of a very young child who is just starting to understand the world. With gorgeously vivid illustrations, this book will help any Black boy see himself as something just as precious and beautiful as the moon that glows in the sky! It would be a wonderful gift for anyone with a very young child.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own and no compensation was given.***
About the Author
Ruth Forman is the author of award-winning poetry collections We Are the Young Magicians and Renaissance and children’s books Young Cornrows Callin Out the Moon and Curls. She is the recipient of the Barnard New Women Poets Prize and the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, among others. She has presented in forums such as the United Nations, the PBS series The United States of Poetry, and National Public Radio. Ruth is a former teacher of creative writing with the University of Southern California and June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley and is a longtime faculty member with the VONA writing program.
About the Illustrator
Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator based in western North Carolina. She’s illustrated children’s books The Dragon Thief, Beyoncé: Shine Your Light, and Curls, among others. Geneva’s work has won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist and a 2018 BSFA Award nomination. She loves manipulating color and adding whimsy with a touch of realism and calm. Visit her online at GenevaB.com.
This sounds beautiful, and very fitting for Juneteenth. Thanks for sharing!
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