Dear You, Dream Big!

Black and brown children are encouraged to stand tall and proud in htis second-person narrative. Illustrations show the children at school, facing struggles and learning about improtant figures in science, politics, and art. Three children study real-world figures, such as Katherine Johnson and Shirley Chisholm. An art classroom has a poster of Jean-Michel Basquiat on the wall, and his crown iconography figures heavily into the fictional character’s aesthetic. The inviting text is both affirming and repetitious, encouraging Black and brown children to persevere. White characters are shown as beneficiaries of ststemic discrimination: a blond white boy with presentation on Lincoln becomes class leader, it’s inferred, and a white teacher speaks to a white student while the Black girl raises her hand, again, inferring neglect. The truth of unfairly amplifying white voices over others is addressed vaguely by the text, but more specifically in the illustrations. These are done with digital crayon and colored pencil and take artistic license with, for example, skewed body proportions and room perspectives. The three protagonists are detailed, while other characters are often shown as sketched silhouettes in the background. NASA headquarters is also depicted simplistically. An author’s note touches briefly on Paul’s Caribbean upbringing. VERDICT This book may strike interest in collections where books such as I Am Enough by Grace Byers or Black Is a Rainbow Color by Ekua Holmes have done well; it lacks their finesse but has a tremendous underlyng message.
—School Library Journal

Baptiste Paul is a Caribbean-born children’s book author. He is a native Creole/Patois speaker who enjoys sharing stories about his experiences with anyone who will listen. Baptiste has written many books for young readers, including The Field; To Carnival; and Climb On!; and Peace; Adventures to School; and I Am Farmer with his wife, Miranda Paul. Baptiste’s stories are fueled by his passion for diversity, inclusion, and uninhibited jwe (play). He lives in Wisconsin with his wife and children.

Toni D. Chambers always wanted to be an artist, whether it was as a dancer, actress, or singer, for as long as she could remember. Her passion for reading and storytelling led her to a career as an illustrator. She earned her BFA in illustration at the University of Massachusetts and works on children’s book illustration, editorial and commercial art, character design, and story development.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.