I Got You

K-Gr 3–Rasheed has always looked up to his big brother. Anthony was the first person he saw when he opened his eyes, the one who taught him to stack blocks, face thunderstorms, and ride a bike with joy and confidence. In rhythmic, first-person narration, Rasheed recounts how his older sibling gently guides him through the big and small lessons of growing up. But when Anthony rides off with friends and leaves Rasheed behind, the ache of exclusion sets in. A heartfelt conversation follows, one that models how to set boundaries with love: “Sometimes I’m going to do things with my friends, all by myself, and that’s okay/ I got you.” Barnes captures the emotional richness of sibling relationships with honesty and tenderness, delivering a satisfying resolution in the final pages, when Rasheed takes on the mentor role himself. Knight-Justice’s gorgeous collage and digital illustrations wrap the family in a visual atmosphere of warmth and creativity. Textured backdrops layer musical notes, leaves, and geometric forms, evoking rhythm, growth, and care. Characters are depicted in a range of brown skin tones, grounding the story in a joyful and lovingly rendered Black family. The boys’ bond stays visually centered, even as the world around them shifts.