You Will Do Great Things

February 1, 2023
In singer Amerie's picture-book debut, a biracial child goes on a magical adventure, with ancestors rooting them on. Full-bleed spreads depict a dark-skinned infant being nurtured by a Black- and Korean-coded family and growing into an energetic youngster with light brown locs and a high fade. As the family sits down to a meal, the protagonist wanders off, their eye caught by an old photograph of a smiling, Black ancestor in overalls. When the child reaches out toward the picture, they fly through the frame and emerge in a jewel-toned forest. The woods are full of glowing, dancing Black and Asian ancestors. Accompanied by rhyming, inspirational text, the narrative winds along with the jubilant kid as they dance through the trees, chase an otherworldly white creature, ride a fiery bird (perhaps inspired by the Samjok-o from Korean mythology), and meet a person in a Korean hanbok before returning home. Younger readers may enjoy the singsong words alongside illustrator Figueroa's colorful, dreamlike art, but overall, the narrative feels somewhat unstructured and unsatisfying. Platitudes like "You will do big things / That just might change the world. // And you will do small things / That may help one boy or girl" are too timeworn to stand out, and the youngster's hop from one supernatural montage to the next is more dizzying than enchanting. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Despite the glittering images, this story is a bit lackluster. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 24, 2023
When a magically sparkling photo of a relative catches the eye of a young child portrayed with brown skin, they are swept into a dreamy fantasy world of imagined adventures. As the dauntless child dances, climbs among trees with gauzy leaved branches, rides a brilliantly plumed phoenix-like bird, and collects a rainbow of glowing orbs, they meet and are spurred on by figures who seem to be ancestors, cued as Black and of East Asian heritage. Figueroa blends elements of reality and reverie in fancifully hued digital landscapes. Songwriter Amerie’s rhyming verse encourages self-discovery (“Listen for that teeny voice// That’s always been inside.// It will help you find your way.// Trust it to be your guide”) and reminds readers that the support and love of family—even those who came before—surrounds them always. “You will be the things/ Those before us couldn’t be.// And you will carry in your heart// The power of their dreams.” Ages 4–8.