Yaram Yahu is a native Chicagoan. He studied at Emerson College's writing, literature, and publishing program. At eleven, he wrote, illustrated, and published his first book, Heartland. Subsequently, he founded his self-publishing company, Rainbows Publishing Inc. His work includes publications in Solstice Literary Magazine, Finli, Timbooktu, Keystrokes: Volume III, and the national anthology The Stories They Tell! by The Young Voices Foundation. His features include The Wednesday Journal, Austin Weekly, Oak Leaves, Trapeze, and The Berkeley Beacon. Yahu also contributed as prose editor of Stork Magazine and copyeditor of Wilde Press Publishing House.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, DeAnn Wiley has been a self-taught painter for five years. She began with traditional acrylic painting and just began her journey into the digital art world with a focus on children's illustrations. Her debut picture book, Sarah Rising, was published by Beaming Books in May 2022. She is an advocate for social justice, as she sits at the intersection of many identities: Black, woman, queer, and disabled. When she is not painting or illustrating, she is working on her final year of grad school for Counseling Psychology.

"Yahu and Wiley's vibrant celebration of heritage, self-confidence, and community centers on a
young boy who learns to see his Afro as a symbol of pride and resilience...a visually captivating and inspiring tale that encourages young readers to embrace their roots and shine brightly."--Booklist

"A powerful and vibrant celebration of self-identity and cultural pride. Each page is a metaphor, describing different Black American cultural touchstones, such as pride in African culture, food, and family gatherings, significant cities around the U.S., as well as meaningful games, dances, and music. The language is brief and poetic, making it accessible to the youngest readers...and the vibrant, joyful art is a perfect match to the positive, uplifting text. A first choice for elementary level libraries."--School Library Journal, starred review

Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books

Pub date: 2024-12-03

Length: 32 pages