Breanna J. McDaniel hopes black girls will recognize themselves in her debut picture book Hands Up!. Even before they flip to the first page, they’ll see a smiling black girl jumping on the cover.
“Unfortunately, you still don’t see a ton of that. And not just black girls. Girls of color, period,” says McDaniel.
McDaniel’s story is about Viv, a lively, responsible, and talented black girl. As readers flip through the vibrant illustrations, Viv grows older and raises her hands in different contexts. She plays peek-a-boo with her parents, participates in class, and practices fifth position, like her favorite ballerina Misty Copeland. Read more…
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‘Black girl joy’ is at the heart of this new children’s picture book
