We Are Free, You and Me

by Colin Kaepernick, Nessa Diab, Gladys Jose (Illustrator)

Overview

Activists Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab present a poetic anthem to your brilliance, your beauty, your very existence.

Every child has the right to be free. . . the right to reach. . . the right to dream. . . This lyrical affirmation of what freedom truly means celebrates the principles of Colin and Nessa's Know Your Rights Camp — an international movement that has inspired thousands of young people to rejoice in their inherent goodness.

We Are Free: You & Me invites even the youngest readers to embrace the Know Your Rights Camp ideals, and to believe they are loved and worthy, just because. . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781339042947
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Colin Kaepernick is a Super Bowl quarterback and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who fights oppression globally. He founded the Know Your Rights Camp, which advances the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown people through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization, and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders. In 2019, he started Kaepernick Publishing to empower a new generation of writers and creators through the development and publication of meaningful works of all genres that focus on amplifying diverse views and voices. KaepernickPublishing.com

Nessa Diab is the host of the nation's #1 hip hop radio show on New York City's HOT 97 every afternoon. Her Nessa On Air radio show is nationally syndicated in more than ten markets. In 2012, she became a member of the MTV family through her work on the VMA's (Video Music Awards), Girl Code, The Real World, Teen Mom, TRL, and various after-shows. As the host of Talk Stoop on NBC/USA, Nessa received a New York Emmy nomination. In 2015, Nessa started the Nessa On Air Scholarship program with the Lower East Side Girls Club to mentor young women in finding their voice.
Gladys Jose is an illustrator and storyteller. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012, where she earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts, specializing in graphic design. Gladys is the illustrator of Fresh Princess by Denene Millner and The Elephants Hide and Seek Handbook by Kjersten Hayes.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for We Are Free, You and Me

"An upbeat and informative book for the next generation's littlest leaders." —Kirkus Reviews

"This is a powerful and accessible invitation for readers of all ages to embrace and support the freedom inherent to all." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/01/2024

PreS-Gr 2—Everyone not only has the right to be free, but also has the right to be empowered in that freedom. Created by the husband-and-wife team behind Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC), this book is a love letter to all children, and its intent is to inspire and encourage youth to stand up for their rights in every situation. Using colorful imagery and poetic language, this title follows a family whose members all have brown skin throughout a day in their welcoming and diverse neighborhood. Though the narrative is more of a list of reminders instead of following a traditional plot, each page blends the text with the images in a way that will resonate with readers. Varying font sizes and placement enhance the visual appeal of the book, and readers will enjoy investigating the detail found in each image. At the end of the book, a note provides insight into the authors' decisions and the intent of the book itself, which will inspire conversation and further investigation beyond what's on the page. Additionally, the endpapers proudly display the primary tenets of the KYRC mission and emphasize the messages found within the narrative itself. Filled with positivity, this book serves as a beacon of hope that "another world…is on her way." VERDICT This is a powerful and accessible invitation for readers of all ages to embrace and support the freedom inherent to all.—Mary R. Lanni

School Library Journal

2024-08-03
Activist and athlete Kaepernick and his partner, radio and TV personality Diab, introduce young readers to the idea of universal rights.

Positive affirmations abound as children are told about their various freedoms: to move and play, to be safe, to live, to speak, and even to grow. Jose’s illustrations follow two young Black children taking part in a variety of activities alongside members of their diverse community: building a playground, painting a mural featuring an image of Malcolm X, playing music and dancing, and protesting in front of a school. Writing in rhyming verse, the authors set an optimistic tone: “Your truth is your strength, like the roots of a tree.” They acknowledge that “life can be tough, and not always fair” but urge young readers to persist. The cartoonish visuals tend toward the predictable, often directly reflecting the text; as the authors encourage youngsters to “weather the storm on your path and not stray,” the accompanying images show a child gazing up at dark clouds and hunkering down under a folded newspaper held by a loving parent. Still, Kaepernick and Diab’s simple but resonant words are ideal for sparking conversation among youngsters. In their authors’ note, they discuss Know Your Rights Camp, the nonprofit they founded to further the well-being of Black and brown communities; the book ends with the organization’s 10 tenets.

An upbeat and informative book for the next generation’s littlest leaders.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews