Includes index

A beautiful, bold collection of more than 100 dazzling poems by Black poets for the whole family to treasure. Discover classic favorites and new stars. This gorgeously illustrated children's anthology is the perfect introduction to poets such as Lucille Clifton, Langston Hughes, Benjamin Zephaniah, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, Caleb Femi, and Joseph Coelho, and also features brand-new work by poets Nikki Grimes, Carole Boston Weatherford, and others. Lovingly compiled by award-winning picture book writer and editor Traci N. Todd, this collection touches on a wide range of themes-hope and struggle, joy and pride, home and food, music and family. Each poem is paired with vibrant, inviting illustrations by Jade Orlando. This beautiful gift book is a remarkable and moving tribute to the rich literary history and bright future of Black writing

Introduction /

Traci N. Todd -- The dream keeper / Langston Hughes -- Come all you little persons / John Agard -- Lift every voice and sing

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James Weldon Johnson -- Dark testament

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Pauli Mirray -- This body II / Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan -- Morning liturgy

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Ijeoma Umebinyuo -- Narcissa / Gwendolyn Brooks -- Robert, who is often a stranger to himself / Gwendolyn Brooks -- Don't cry caterpillar / Grace Nichols -- Mumble the magic words / Jabari Asim -- Miss Mary Mack introduces her wings / Tyree Daye -- Bird's nest (after Max Sansing) / Jamila Woods -- Granny Granny please comb my hair / Grace Nichols -- Before going to the barbershop / Gabriel Ramirez -- The black flamingo

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Dean Atta -- I like to stay up / Grace Nichols -- Anancy / Andrew Salkey -- Ah was readin' a book / Valerie Bloom -- Why some people be mad at me sometimes / Lucille Clifton -- Checking out me history / John Agard -- Waves / Jackie Kay -- Windrush child / John Agard -- Mama-wata / Grace Nichols -- Mawu of the waters / Abena P.A. Busia -- She, on the way to Monk's Hill / Blessing Musariri -- The song of the highway

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Pauli Murray -- The runaway kite / Jessie Fauset -- Latch key kid / Derrick Barnes -- Shea butter manifesto / Eve L. Ewing -- But what can you teach my daughter / Audre Lorde -- From your auntie, to my best friend's kid / Ella McLeod -- Breakfast table / David Ishaya Osu -- ... I write / Alicia D. Williams -- I am the creativity / Alexis De Veaux -- I love the look of words / Maya Angelou -- Things / Eloise Greenfield -- To the notebook kid / Eve L. Ewing -- Delroy the skateboard roller / James Berry -- For poets / Al Young -- Allow me to introduce myself / Charles R. Smith Jr. -- The emancipation of George-Hector (a colored turtle) / Mari Evans -- American gothic (to Satch) / Samuel Allen -- Science... / Gordon Nelson -- Good trouble / Nikki Grimes -- This is not a small voice / Sonia Sanchez -- Silent talking / Dana Marrett-Silvera -- Haiku 369 / Richard Wright -- Photograph / Lucille Clifton -- Toward the sky / Effie Lee Newsome -- Thirteen / Caleb Femi -- A small needful fact / Ross Gay -- Haiku 694 / Richard Wright -- Fury & faith

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Amanda Gorman -- A tribute / Donna F. Thomas -- You are on your way to greatness / Winsome Bingham -- Say how you feel / Joseph Coelho -- Common things / James Alpheus Butler, Jr. -- October

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Ijeoma Umebinyuo -- I think I'll call it morning / Gil Scott-Heron -- Haiku / Sonia Sanchez -- Morning / Dionne Brand -- Carnival days

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Benjamin Zephaniah -- Where the rainbow ends / Richard Rive -- A rainy day / Lottie Burrell Dixon -- The cotton cat / Effie Lee Newsome -- Haiku 457 / Richard Wright -- Winter poem / Nikki Giovanni -- Snow prints / Effie Lee Newsome -- From space / Joseph Coelho -- Apollo / Elizabeth Alexander -- Where's my moon? / Carole Boston Weatherford -- Granddaddy / Dinah Johnson -- Timmy and Tawanda / Gwendolyn Brooks -- Being Black in my neighborhood / Ja A. Jahannes -- Play song / Peter Clarke -- Salt! Vinegar! Mustard! Pepper! / Jessie Faust -- Iris song / Rickey Laurentiis -- Who can be born Black / Mari Evans -- Climbing together / Rio Cortez -- History lesson / Natasha Trethewey -- Grits : 1967 / Jasmine Mans -- Greens / James A. Emanuel -- Mammie's coo-coo and callaloo / John Lyons -- Jamaica market / Agnes Maxwell-Hall -- Knoxville, Tennessee / Nikki Giovanni -- In praise of okra / January Gill O'Neil -- Saturday morning pancakes / Paula White-Jackson -- Ode to a Dominican breakfast / Yesenia Montilla -- On quiet feet / Nikki Grimes -- In Daddy's arms / Folami Abiade -- Happy birthday moon / Raymond Antrobus -- The ghosts of women once girls

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Aja Monet -- I am the one / Opal Palmer Adisa -- Spirit enchantment / Ed Bullins -- Fantasy / Gwendolyn Bennett -- Night songs / Lynn Joseph -- Lullaby / Quandra Prettyman -- The quilt / Effie Lee Newsome -- Night / Donald Jeffrey Hayes -- Poem / Langston Hughes