I am going to let the publisher description talk for the book How We Can Live: Principles of Black Lives Matter by Lalena Garcia.
The first children’s book to feature material from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, this beautiful picture book will engage hearts and minds as it introduces children to the guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement.
There are prompts for you and your child or students to talk about. There are concepts that might be new, and some familiar. Overall, it is a book that is there to help
bring understanding. And frankly some concepts are just common sense, and are things we should practice regardless of race, gender or whatever else makes us “different” or even “the same.”
Now, this is not for everyone, as it is set up with each page is its own concept and there is not a lot going on, but it has something for everyone. Several pages will have famous people that fit the idea of the page. Some we will know; others will be new (Malcolm Shanks anyone?). There are introductions and afterwards for the adults as well. It is not something you can read quickly or maybe, even all at once.
Now the art is what was clever for me. As an adult I have been introduced to the ideas before, but some became clearer, or added to what I knew. Yet, they have a warm, bold, colorful, and frankly loud tone to them. Caryn Davidson created images that fit the text and to add to it as well. Overall, the illustrations were my favorite part, as they add the right “something” to the books flavor.