From Khodi Dill and Chelsea Charles comes a celebration of little Black excellence. Little Black Lives Matter, a story in verse, reminds children that those famous Black heroes from history were once children, just like the readers and their lives all matter.

This beautiful story, reminiscent of Wab Kinew’s Go Show The World about Indigenous excellence, shares with readers, not only a history lesson, but a lesson in celebration and joy. Even though the readers are children, they can aspire to many different things. These famous figures were all once children, doing childhood things, and their lives mattered, just like children’s lives matter now.

Khodi Dill’s words lyrically flow from page to page inviting the readers in to exploration and understanding. It’s a lengthy book in page numbers but each two page spead features a simple verse. I love how Khodi Dill included a quote from each of the famous Black heroes on the pages where they are featured. This allows older readers to make more connections and gain better understanding of the material as well as will perhaps inspire some more research into their favourite heroes.

Chelsea Charles’ illustrations are bold and vibrant. They are joyful and commanding and I really love how many of the heroes are illustrated as themselves as adults and as children reinforcing the words in the story, that their little Black lives were filled with dreams, hopes, hardships and joys, just like the readers.