FICTION

I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

by Tanisia Moore (text) & illus. by Robert Paul
Scholastic. Sept. 2023. 32p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781338776171.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 4–A vibrant, heartwarming celebration of Black excellence and Black ancestors, this book invokes the legacies of Chadwick Boseman, John Lewis, Kobe Bryant, and Thurgood Marshall via an unnamed protagonist going about his day. Moore’s writing is firm and full of similes, inviting readers to imagine how they can be “like Tupac and Biggie” when they use their voices to touch hearts. Paul’s illustrations emulate watercolor and pastel work through a digital medium and will excite readers who see their heroes on the page. The refrain of “I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams” invokes hope and resilience while still being a positive, uplifting meditation. The back matter includes miniature biographies of these figures to serve as a jumping-off point for future learning.
VERDICT Spot on for young readers who will enjoy the sparser text, this will also resonate with older readers who may be more familiar with the ancestors depicted.
Reviewed by Aryssa Damron , Dec 08, 2023

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