Parents' Guide to Baby Young, Gifted, and Black

Book Jamia Wilson Board 2021
Baby Young, Gifted, and Black book cover: Black child with crown and wings, title in large brown font on turquoise background

Common Sense Media Review

By Amy Midanik-Blum , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 2+

Sweet, affirming board book about Black excellence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 2+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In BABY YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK, each page highlights a Black leader and a quality they have in the form of a powerful affirmation. Political leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Wangarĩ Maathai appear alongside cultural icons like Zadie Smith and Stevie Wonder. The final page ties it all together with the inclusion of a mirror, where kids can see their own potential for greatness in the book.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Crafted in the spirit of the Nina Simone song it's named for, this book is a pure, joyful celebration of Black excellence from music, sports, politics, literature, activism, and more. The clear and critical message of the book is expressed through Jamia Wilson's strong, repetitive affirmations and Andrea Pippins' engaging illustrations full of bright colors and shapes that add a sense of movement to the pages. This lovely little board book is a great read-aloud that will help young readers build confidence and self-esteem.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how we can show compassion to others, even if we don't know them. Why is this important?

  • What does having courage mean to you? Which courageous people in this book stood out to you?

  • Some of the people in this book have had to persevere through challenges before they made a change. Has that ever happened to you? What happened?

Book Details

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Baby Young, Gifted, and Black book cover: Black child with crown and wings, title in large brown font on turquoise background

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