Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Gracey Zhang
At night, Nigel, a little black boy, “tells the moon his dreams”. He is “an astronaut. A dancer. A superhero too”. But at school (in the illustrations, he is the only black boy in his class), he “shrinks”, and can’t bring himself to speak to his dreams.
“It’s easy to tell the moon his dreams. But Nigel’s not ready to tell the world.” Not ready, that is, until is parents, depicted as loving and supportive, and who have blue collar jobs, come to speak at career day at his school. As they speak to his class, he swells with pride – enough to tell the world who he is.
Poignant, and beautifully illustrated.
Recommended age: 4-7
