I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
These authors capture the passion and need for change in this story of a child looking for a hero. Unfortunately, many of the monuments to past heroes did not tell the full story of the person honored. Readers see how one march for justice led to change with a new statue created to honor those who fight for peace and rights and freedom. The illustrations capture the energy and action as well as the long weariness of this battle.

This book was so well-written and beautifully illustrated. This is going to be such an important book for so many people, not just children. I’m so happy this was published and I can’t wait to see it in people’s hands.

This was a great and powerful book based on the events in Bristol in 2020, when activists from the BLM movement were in protest for George Floyd and then came across Colton's statue and decided to topple it down.
I remember it well, sadly.

This book is from the point of view of a little girl looking upon a statue of a man many called a Hero, but he was no such thing, and instead had been a slaver and destroyer of freedom.

I do believe it's important to teach our children, as well as everyone else, that we should always stand up for what's right, for just causes, for a better world, for peace.

While I agree with all of this, I do NOT condone the destruction and erasing of statues or monuments.

I completely understand that having such statues can be extremely hurtful for many people to just 'stumble' upon in public places; but destroying, vandalizing and erasing them won't change anything.

I believe that things such as this statue (and many others) belong in museums, so that we can indeed remember History, not erase it, and attempt to not repeat the worst parts of it.
At least in a museum, only those who want to see this will be confronted with it.
Having a public statue or monument that glorifies and celebrates dark moments in History is not acceptable anymore. That is what museums are for.

Much like Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is now a museum, that still stands to remind us of the atrocities that happened there and had a devastating effect worldwide. But only those who want to see it go there.


So, I appreciate this book and the overall message it gives to children, about finding their own voice and standing up for what is right, BUT I do not like the somewhat... encouragement it also gives about destroying and erasing history.

This is an excellent book and covers a very important part of history. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book for review!

Outstanding. Thought provoking. Heart- Grabbing.

This is a children's story that has such a deep message. As a teacher, this is a book that represents my students, this is a book they need to heard. This book might help them feel seen, their voices heard. I do believe that there would be communities that would fight against having this book in a library, but it should be in libraries, schools, stores everywhere. I loved at the end of the book when it shared more information about the real life situations, and even had discussion questions that could be used with a class, book group, or with your child at home.
You need to read this story. It matters.

What makes a person a hero? Why do some people have statues that say that they are heroes? When do we decide that a person is no longer a hero and take the statues down to make room for new heroes?
The illustrations by Leire Salaberria are fun, needed, colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. The pictures are really well done and the story is amazing!

Was given this through Netgalley. Thank you so much.

I read this to my daughter for her nighttime story and she loved it! Was nice seeing diversity in books and I love seeing Black Girl Magic.

Children’s book about standing up for change and what is right. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

A wonderful call to action towards a more equal and kinder world for young and old alike. Beautifully illustrated and rhymed throughout.

Wow, this book is powerful. We started a children's literacy nonprofit to bring diverse and inclusive books to all kids in all communities. This book will be one of them.

A poetic story centering the real life events during the 2020 protests after the killing of George Floyd. This protest took place in Bristol, England. The march took place walking pass the statue of Edward Colston, an 18th century merchant. To some he was a hero, to most he was not. During the March for justice, protestors tired of walking past the symbol of enslavement, removed the statue and pushed it into the harbor. Then Jen Reid, the author, decided to take a stand and actually climbed atop and stood for justice and peace on the empty plinth. The moment inspired so many.

This is a book that should be read in every classroom and home. To open the dialect of what is going on in our world. To take about protests and their importance. To discuss the *actual* history of our countries. And how by acknowledging that history, we can work to make changes. This book is beautiful and representative but that also shows power, courage and how we need to take a stand. We, as a people, talk about how our world needs to change. We need to be kinder, more empathetic, more understanding. That change starts with our kids, our youth. Getting these books into the hands of kids and beginning to have these hard, uncomfortable conversations is just the beginning. We are working to be a part of that change.

The poetic wording brings to life this story.The illustrations bring the gorgeous words to life. A must-read.

This book is fantastic and powerful. I had chills when reading it. At the end, reading how it is based on a true story - not just of people bringing down the statues of awful men, but of a young woman standing on top of the plinth, her fist raised high for Black Peace and Black Power - wow. Chills. I had not previously been aware of this young woman and that a statue had been made afterwards, and later removed by the city.

This book will show children a new definition, approach, and understanding of what it means to be a hero, an understanding that all adults should take on as well. The language is approachable, easy to understand, and the content can inspire discussions for children and adults.

I'll add that as a Canadian, I noted that the story and the illustrations are clearly American, but this does not mean that the story does not resonate outside of the United States.

I would definitely recommend this book to people with young kids.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book. Opinions are entirely my own.

he artwork throughout this book is stunning and I loved the message behind it. Everyone deserves someone to look up to and I’m glad someone has this book to do so.

I love the story, illustrations, discussion questions, theme. Great addition. It's relevant and shows current events, contemporary issues. I also enjoyed the prose.

I don't know how I feel about this
I support the message to stand up and protest etc but I don't agree that we should be teaching people to destroy public property.

This book would be an excellent picture book to have a discussion in the classroom about world events.

This book was stellar! I loved the art, and the poem was well done from the beginning. It was a bit over my young one's head (6yo), but with some gentle explaining, we got there. We had an issue with some vocabulary (harbor, plinth, resin), but we used context clues or used it as a learning moment. I liked that most protest signs were peaceful or age-appropriate; only questionable one was "stop killing us" which was a bit hard to explain to a six-year-old. I am torn on the matter - on one hand, that was a bit much for a young one, on the other hand, it is an immense point of privilege to have this be the first time we've discussed police brutality. I appreciate the additional information at the back of the book as a discussion point. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book; it was a great entry point to several important discussions with my kids.

Very short but quite an important read with amazing illustrations and storytelling.

A young girl standing up against people when she felt justice was needed.

Please do read the information given towards the end of the book to know about the personality described and what they fought for. I appreciate the exercise given towards the end as well.

It’s those ordinary people who stand up against injustice that change the lives of those around and the generations to come.

Thank you, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, for the advance reading copy.

A brave and powerful tale about standing up for what you believe in and what it really means to be a hero.

Not a child, obviously, nor do I have any of my own, but if I did, this is the kind of book I'll wish for them to read: a book that makes them question the status quo, address social inequity, and be actively involved in the call for change. I cannot recommend this hard enough.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is super important, and I think it is good to focus on recent stuff too for picture books like these! The focus of the book is good, I LOVE the artstyle and in general it is a good one! There are too many people the world sees as the greatest heroes of all time and keep praising them, when they have actually been super problematic and also done a lot of horrible things. We need some new heroes please!!!

My only complaint is that I felt like the text and lines in them were a bit clunky and awkward at times. Sometimes it seemed like it was really going in with rhymes and then it stopped, and sometimes the lines were long with a lot of words and sometimes very short. Might be just me as a non-native speaker tho!

3.5 ⭐️