Greatness

K-Gr 3–Readers follow Nasir and Imani as they join their grandma and immerse themselves in famous people and times in Black history. This book has a unique storytelling style as it juxtaposes historical stock images with modern photographs enhanced with the Bethencourts’ signature style. Grandma briefly explains the historical image: “these are the Tuskegee Airmen…they were the first Black pilots in the U.S. military. Because they couldn’t mix with white pilots, they formed their own unit and helped America win World War II.” The children don similar clothing and hairstyles to the images presented. The throughline of the book is to highlight these historical figures and events while also encouraging readers to find the greatness in themselves through various statements: upon hearing the story of Colin Kaepernick, “Nasir imagined how passionate you had to be to risk everything and speak up for what’s right.” The content and events included are briefly told, allowing readers to understand the significance of the historical relevance without going into depth on every figure. Back matter includes more information for readers curious to dive a little deeper.