A review by crlyhairedbibliophile
You So Black by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.

hopeful inspiring reflective

5.0

“Black and beautiful, Black and blessed. Black and so much more, Black and nothing less.”

What a beautiful love letter to Blackness this was!! 😍🤎

I listened to and watched Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.’s spoken word for this poem when news of this picture book crossed my radar and immediately fell in love. To hear a phrase that I’d remembered being used as an insult be reframed in a way that not only lifts Black skin in a positive light but also celebrates all of the beauty of Blackness itself completely warmed my heart. Keeping that playing in my mind while I read, I loved having these words in writing and seeing them accompanied by London Ladd’s equally beautiful illustrations, each page a piece of art work perfect for the wall. 

I feel as if I say this for every title I share with Black faces at the forefront, but I really wish something like this was on the shelf when I was younger and having a difficult relationship with the color of my skin. That being said, I can’t wait to get a copy for my own personal library AND one to share with the minis I work with. This is such a beautiful reminder of the fullness of the Black community, from the work of our ancestors to the endless possibilities of our future and I’m extremely grateful it fell in my lap to read and experience. 

🌟 FAVORITE GEMS 🌟
🤎 “Black is adjective, adverb, color and noun.”

🤎 “Black is not something we get to choose, but it is something we get to cherish.”

🤎 “Black is melanized and magic.”

Special thanks again to Hear Our Voices Tours & Simon Kids!