Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal
A 2020 Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.

Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

Kwame Alexanderis a poet, an educator, and theNew York Timesbestselling author of more than thirty-fivebooks, including hisNewberyMedalwinning middle grade novelThe Crossover. Some of his other works includeBooked, which was longlisted for theNational Book Award;The Playbook:52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life;Swing; the picture booksHow to Read a BookandHow to Write a Poem(coauthored with Deanna Nikaido),bothillustrated by Melissa Sweet; andThe Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson,which was longlisted for the National Book Awardand won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. He is a regular contributor to NPRsMorning Edition, currently serving as their poet ambassador. He lives in Virginia with his family. Visit his website atkwamealexander.com.

Kadir Nelsonis a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. Among his other awards are an NAACP Image Award, and the 2009 and 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Award. His work has appeared inThe New York Times,Sports Illustrated, andThe New Yorker. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

• Publisher: Versify
• Publish Date: April 2, 2019
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• Type: Hardback
• EAN/UPC: 9781328780966
• Dimensions:10.5 in H | 11 in W | 0.5 in T | 1.2 lb Wt
• BISAC Categories: Kids