Sam Cooke (Author)
Sam Cooke (1931-1964) is one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in American history. His influence spanned genres, and his genius as a singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and activist, paved a new way forward for Black musicians in the recording industry. Though he had many hit songs, "A Change Is Gonna Come"
(1964) remains his most recognized and powerful work. This hopeful anthem garnered widespread adulation and continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest songs of all time. Posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and awarded the GRAMMY for lifetime achievement, Sam Cooke was a trailblazing legend whose work shaped culture and who fought for the advancement of civil rights and freedoms. His voice was a galvanizing force that helped express the joys and struggles of millions and inspired true societal change.

Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator)
Nikkolas Smith is an artivist, award-winning picture book creator, and Hollywood film illustrator. His books include the New York Times bestselling The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, The History of WE, I Am Ruby Bridges, The Artivist, That Flag, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream, Captain America: A Hero Looks Like You, and My Hair Is Poofy & That's Okay. Known for his artistic depictions of marginalized voices, Nikkolas speaks on artivism around the world, sparking important conversations and inspiring positive change. Born in Houston, Texas, Nikkolas lives in Los Angeles, California with his family.

Award-winning 'artivist' Smith transforms Cooke's 1964 anthem of hope into a stirring visual narrative that traces the Black American experience of the civil rights era through the eyes of a fictional photographer. In this newly imagined story, a young boy finds a camera by the river, and as he grows, his lens captures a world shaped by both racism and resilience. Vibrating with energetic brushwork and rhythmic layers of detail, Smith's sweeping digital paintings follow his journey through moments of struggle and progress: signs enforcing segregation, mourners at the funeral of Medgar Evers, the crowds at the March on Washington, and the signing of the Civil Rights Act. Shifting palettes and dynamic compositions heighten the emotional urgency in each scene. Smith's meticulous vision extends even to the typeface inspired by 1968 protest signs; set in shifting sizes, the text pulses across the pages, giving voice to the power of Cooke's music. A resonant coda shows a young girl poring over the photographer's prints, a heritage of both memory and hope. Followed by a spread identifying the many real events and figures woven into scenes aligning with the lyrics, notes by Smith and Cooke's granddaughter reflect on the iconic song's indelible impact on their lives. A profound and poetic work affirming the power of art to envision change-and to help make it happen.-- "Booklist, STARRED REVIEW"

Honoring the difficult past of American history while celebrating the strength and pride of the Black experience, this title focuses on the promise of the future and the fact, as Cooke's timeless lyrics tell readers, "I know a change is going to come. Oh yes it will." The art masterfully captures the heart and hope of the fictional and historical characters throughout the book. With a nod to the photographs of Gordon Parks, Smith has captured and added layers of depth to many historical moments that, along with the accompanying back matter, will have readers poring over the illustrations and learning through looking. On one particularly moving spread the text speaks of change; one side of the illustration features a mother and her five children holding various protest signs for housing and education rights and a call back to the broken promise of "40 acres and a mule." The opposite page shows the five children wearing graduation gowns, throwing their mortarboards in the air in front of their family-owned restaurant. Their mother is in the background. This title begs for multiple readings, along with scanning the included QR code that links to a recording of Cooke's iconic rendition of this anthem.

While honestly reflecting a difficult past, this title is full of hope and the promise of a future where change will come; an essential title for all libraries. -- "School Library Journal, Starred Review"

Acclaimed artist Smith honors Cooke's legendary song with 1960s-inspired art.
A Black child spies a camera floating on a plank in the river near the shack where he lives, and when he grows up and migrates to a city, he brings the camera with him. Paired with lyrics from Cooke's song-long considered a Civil Rights Movement anthem-scenes of urban life follow: signs proclaiming segregation, the funeral of Medgar Evers (an activist murdered in 1963 Mississippi), Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law as Martin Luther King Jr. looks on, people gathering for the March on Washington, a re-creation of a photo depicting Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali sitting at a lunch counter, and other milestones in the fight for racial justice. The man with the camera is present at many of these moments; a touching final spread portrays a Black child looking through photographs of those very scenes. Smith's signature painting style lends energy to the pages with formidable linework, superb use of darkness and light, and strong compositions, inviting readers to linger, parse the images, and discuss what's going on. . . . a window into history, this work offers a rich opportunity to introduce the topic to young people through art, music, personalities, events, and emotions, over multiple exposures.
Potent and deeply moving.-- "Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"

Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books

Pub date: 2025-09-02

Length: 32 pages