Charles, Tami. We Are Here. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. New York: Orchard Books, 2023.

Guide to categories: Kid Review – review of books for elementary-aged and younger children

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Summary

An empowering follow-up to New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter that celebrates the rich history of Black and brown men and women throughout history with soaring language and stunning illustration.

Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, We Are Here is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to all of the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions from the beginning of time.

Tami Charles shares the beauty and excellence in the history of the Black community, assuring Black and brown children of the extraordinary legacy from which they come. Charles’s powerful and empowering text is accompanied with illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree. We Are Here celebrates readers with pride, joy, and love, reminding them of their roots, inviting readers to imagine a future that shines ever bright, and strengthening them for their triumphant days to come!

Purchase We Are Here on Amazon – https://amzn.to/48AlfPO

My Kid Review

We Are Here was designed to showcase the contributions of Black people. I was a little disappointed that specific people and events were not named. Tami Charles really speaks in generalities. She used verse for her text. 

Bryan Collier’s illustrations are well-done. They have a definite African-American feel to them which is appropriate for the text.

I encourage K-12 Christian school librarians to review We Are Here for themselves to determine if the book is appropriate for their audience. I’m not sure I’d put it in my library, mostly because I didn’t think it would appeal to my audience. 

I received a complimentary copy of We Are Here. This is my honest review. 

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