"In rhyming couplets, Cortez leads readers on a journey through Black life that acknowledges pain and struggle while building confidence with examples of triumph. It's a tricky maneuver when writing for children, but Cortez pulls it off."
- The New York Times "A uniquely crafted ABC book that portrays some of the most important events in Black History with a vibrancy and joy that young children will absolutely love."
- Parade "...The layers of history are plentiful and complex....A useful mentor text for writing projects, a springboard for research, and an essential addition to classroom libraries." -
Booklist "An impressive array of names, events, and concepts from Black history are introduced in this alphabet book for early-elementary readers... The rhyming verses are light on the tongue, making the reading smooth and soothing. The brightly colored, folk art-style illustrations offer vibrant scenes of historical and contemporary Black life..." -
Kirkus Starred Review "Poet Cortez pens an informative ode to Black history in her children's book debut--for each letter of this abecedarian, she offers lightly alliterative, rhyming text that illuminates historically significant concepts and figures...A particularly resonant spread shows a crowd holding signs that reflect both historical and current events, including "We March with Selma" and "We Can't Breathe," demonstrating to young readers how past occurrences affect the present... A richly accessible resource for anyone seeking to celebrate Black visionaries." -
Publishers Weekly 
