Dear You, Dream Big!

Dear You, Dream Big! By: Baptiste Paul / Illustrated by: Toni Chambers ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is possible! A new classic for black and brown children. Perhaps you want to become an artist, or a scientist, or maybe even president. Even when--especially when--the path is hard, Dear YOU: Dream BIG. A personal, poetic, and uplifting affirmation from Caribbean-born author Batpiste Paul encouraging today's Black youth to reject those who wish to silence them, exclude them, and reject their talents with one powerful refrain. A powerful, lyrical anthem of Black pride celebrating Black creativity, leadership, and innovation that's perfect for fans of All Because You Matter, I Am Every Good Thing, and I Am Enough. If you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: Imani's Moon No Voice Too Small Circle Round [TABS] Look Inside Downloadables Download the Cover Author & Illustrator Baptiste Paul, author 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. Read more about Baptiste Toni Chambers, illustrator Toni 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. Read more about Toni. Awards & Honors Coming soon! Editorial Reviews Children's Literature This meaningful story follows three children of color as they pursue their passions to become an artist, a leader, and an aerospace engineer despite not having examples of people who look like them experience success in those fields. Throughout the story the anthem of dreaming big is reiterated as the children face adversity and feel as though they are being silenced and having their dreams crushed. Examples of black artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, black politicians Angela Davis and Shirley Chisholm, and black NASA scientist Katherine Johnson are pictured and named, subtly breaking the cycle mentioned throughout the story of lack of black representation in American history. The book encourages following your dreams, dreaming big, and empowers youth, especially of color, to remember that anything is possible. The colorful and impactful illustrations are empowering and represent many different skin tones that are otherwise underrepresented in children’s literature. This book would make a great addition to elementary and early middle school classroom libraries as well as home libraries. It would lend itself nicely to units about self, communities, careers, and cultures around the world. Watch Baptiste Paul on The Morning Blend on TMJ Channel 4 in Milwuakee. School Library Journal Black and brown children are encouraged to stand tall and proud in this second-person narrative. Illustrations show the children at school, facing struggles and learning about important 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 systemic discrimination: a blond white boy with a 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 an 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 underlying message. Details Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-62354-295-5 Ages: 5-8 Page count: 32 101/2 x 91/2 Publication date: May 14, 2024 [/TABS]