• Age: 4 to 9
• Grade: p to 4

A vibrantly illustrated, inspiring picture book celebrating Black boyhood from celebrated spoken-word poet Angela Bowden.

Black boy, you are a gift
Of the past and the present
You're the sun
You're the moon
You're the stars
EVERYTHING

Black Boy, Black Boy celebrates self-love and identity for Black boys globally. Written by acclaimed author and poet Angela Bowden, this poignant spoken-word poem encourages young minds to embrace their cultural roots and identities, and to dream boundlessly.

Using vivid imagery and verse to bring readers on a journey of self-discovery and resilience, Black Boy, Black Boy invites readers to explore legacies passed down from ancestors, embodied in today's Black men, and destined for future leaders. This moving poem honours achievements in every field, from medicine and music, to the nurturing embrace of Black fatherhood. Renowned artist Ibe Ananaba enriches this journey with vibrant illustrations depicting icons like Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Chinua Achebe, Walter Borden, Chadwick Boseman, and other heroes, both iconic and unsung.

By showcasing local Canadian icons alongside international ones, the book universally reflects the experiences of Black boys everywhere. It affirms that the spirit and legacy of Black excellence moves beyond geographic borders and resides within each individual, inspiring pride and limitless potential.

Angela Bowden is an African Nova Scotian poet, author, TEDx speaker, writer, and activist. A descendent of the stolen Africans sold through the transatlantic slave trade, her roots were preserved through the Black Loyalists? arrival in Birchtown and subsequent migrations to Guysborough County and New Glasgow, where she was born and raised. Her ongoing work and published book of poetry, UnSpoken Truth: unmuted and unfiltered, highlights, documents, and challenges systemic and overt racism entrenched in Nova Scotia. A strong advocate of self-care, she encourages self-love, self-empowerment, deep healing, and change. Angela writes in many genres; Black Girl, Black Girl is her first children's book.

Angela Bowden's profile page

Ibeabuchi Ananaba (Ibe Ananaba) is a multidisciplinary artist exploring the impact of sociocultural complexities on contemporary living. He enjoys experimenting and practising as a painter, illustrator, muralist, art director, calligraphist, and designer. With local and international awards, Ibe's art has been used as a case study for project theses by various university scholars across Nigeria. Listed in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Collections, he has had numerous local and international art exhibitions, and his works have been prominently featured in notable international publications. Ibe is a member of the Black Artist Network of Nova Scotia and a Visual Arts Nova Scotia member.

Ibeabuchi Ananaba's profile page