Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy
By Barbara Saunders,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Moving poems, dazzling art show the beauty of black boys.

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT A BLACK BOY consists of 13 tankas (31-syllable poems) and accompanying illustrations depicting black boys and young men living their lives at school, church, and in their families and communities.
Is It Any Good?
This beautiful book can boost readers' pride and self-esteem. The words and images in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Tony Medina depict black boys having a diversity of experiences and states of being. Sometimes the subjects of the poems and illustrations are regal or mystical; other times they are down-to-earth or downtrodden. In all cases, their humanity is evident. The artwork shows a great deal of variety in styles: soft pastels, expressionistic pieces with heavy strokes, surrealistic images, and graphic pieces.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different things black boys are shown doing and feeling in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy, and how everyone is special. What makes your life special?
How does the art help you understand the ideas and feelings in the poems?
Try telling a story in just a few words.
Book Details
- Author: Tony Medina
- Illustrators: Floyd Cooper, Skip Hill, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Tiffany McKnight, Robert Liu-Trujillo, Keith Mallett, Shawn K. Alexander, Kesha Bruce, Brianna McCarthy, R. Gregory Christie, Ekua Holmes, Javaka Steptoe, Chandra Cox
- Genre: Poetry
- Topics: Adventures, Arts and Dance, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Penny Candy Books
- Publication date: June 3, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 11
- Number of pages: 44
- Last updated: June 2, 2022
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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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