You don't have to win a Nobel; you can change the world by winning in sports!
The illustrations by the author are simple, monochromatic, and expressive.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail January 2025 #DearBlackBoy by Martellus Bennett #NetGalley
@QuartoPublishingGroup @FrancesLincoln #UseSportsToWin @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org Ages 3-6 yrs @bookshop_org_uk @CBCBook #Encouragement #Rhythmic

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

What a great call to be a strong, leader for black boys. Well written and emotional I loved the drawings and the message of this book.

Dear Black Boy by Martellus Bennett is a picture book/illustrated poem that is both inspiring and empowering for all children, but Black boys in particular. Society tells Black boys that they should focus on sports. This book shows readers that sports are just one way to excel. Black boys can do anything! The illustrations are beautiful, as is the text. This is definitely one that belongs in every classroom!

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for a review copy of Dear Black Boy

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

A beautiful, revealing, and inspiring poem. That should be in all classrooms and homes. I can see it winning many awards. BIPOC boys and men will benefit from this as well as those in their sphere. It can and will uplift those who read it. 10 stars!

What a beautiful book!! I don't just mean the illustrations which are stunning, but the words the author chose were truly beautiful. It can be difficult to find the language for young children to encourage them to dream of their own future and that of the world, add in the layer of the barriers young children of color will have to overcome in their lifetime and that language becomes even more difficult to find. This book did so in a caring and thoughtful way and I think it will help all children, but especially young black boys dream of their future.

Wow- what an inspirational book during a time where recent history of black boys has been quite scary.

"They game of life is the one game that they think Black Boys can't win, but with the proper preparation, dedication, and determination, every Black Boy can be a winner."

This book tells Black Boys that they are important, vital, and an essential part of society. Told against the backdrop of sport, this book tells Black Boys that they are important and their dreams are worth everything in the world. No dream is too big for Black Boys.

Written by professional football player, Martellus Bennett, this book empowers Black Boys to be the very best, whether that is by sport or the mind, Black Boys' quest for free continues in the excellence they can achieve. This book is written with such a passionate intensity that it feels like Bennett is speaking directly to the reader.

"Each second of your life is of supreme value"

The illustrations are gorgeous. Black Boys of shapes and sizes are shown succeeding, supporting each other, and being incredible.

It's incredible to have such a beautiful book in the world. It would be a very good book for every elementary classroom to have.

Dear Black Boy is an inspirational book to black children everywhere. It is a positive message that inspires them to believe in themselves and their ability to achieve their dreams. It lets them know that they have the skill set to be more than ball players and that they ought to believe in themselves.

As a black parent, this is exactly the type of book I wish my children to read. Our children need books about people that look like them. They need books that inspire them. With Dear Black Boy, Martellus Bennett delivers this and so much more. I wish to read this book to my sons over and over again as a daily inspiration.

I will definitely be purchasing this book for my students. What I like about this book is that is doesn’t crap on those who want to play sports however just shows them other ways that we can prosper.

Written and illustrated by multitalented father and Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett, Dear Black Boy is a letter of encouragement to all boys of color who feel like sports is their only choice.

Dear Black Boy,
Today is the day that we lace up our shoes to do more than run another sprint, dunk another ball, catch another pass, or swing at another pitch.
[…]
Run, Black Boy, run!
Run in the direction of your dreams.
You can change the world for us all!
[…]
Win, Black Boy, Win!
The world needs more winners that look like you!

With dreamlike illustrations that invite children to place themselves in the pages’ scenes, this uplifting picture book reminds kids that the biggest game they’ll ever play is the game of life. Off the courts and pitches, people are rooting for them not as athletes, but as future leaders of the world.

In the book’s rhythmic, reassuring words of wisdom, kids discover that the qualities that make them great athletes—mental toughness, dedication, passion, determination, and effort—are the same ones that will drive them forward in life.

Author Martellus Bennett is an NFL legend, but—just like the children he seeks to inspire with this book—he has talents that extend far beyond the playing field. Bennett is an entrepreneur, animator, illustrator, musician, dreamer, and loving father. He started creating children’s literature to remedy the lack of black and brown representation in the books available to read to his daughter.

A different kind of coach for black and brown boys, and essential reading for children of every color, Dear Black Boy empowers kids to see new possibilities and follow their passions. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, they will find strength in its pages.

The world’s more beautiful when the Black Boy dreams.

My Take:
This book is an excellent collection of affirmations for young Black boys. Its illustrations celebrate the richness of their skin tones, ranging from ivory to ebony, enabling young Black boys to see themselves reflected in the pages. I would suggest this book for any community where a young Black boy might reside or spend time.

I really liked the idea behind this book and it was really well done.

The book is a letter written to all "Black Boys" out there to show that they can really be anything that they want to be. They may think that excelling in sports is all that they can really do, but that is not the case at all.

The book is very positive and it explains how with determination, contraction and a willingness to learn and push themselves and they can be, and do more in the wider world and not just be limited to sport activities.

The book is well written, it is easy to follow and well laid out. The illustrations in the book are great and they work with the author's writing style to bring the book to life - I can see this being a book that is read again and again by younger boys - it is so well done - I love books like this

It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!

The was free through Net Galley.

Wow! This is what our young African-American boys need to hear every day. Tight-end and now author Martellus Bennet, in this children's book, inspires young boys to reach their potential and not sell themselves short. The Illustrator uses line-less art to bring out the visuals to enhance the message in the book. Freedom to be who you are and what you can become in life is the message of this book. One thing that stood out to me was the pictures of black men who have accomplished various careers and letting our black youth know nothing is out of their reach.

Martellus Bennett, Super Bowl champion turned author/illustrator, has penned a book for all ages in Dear Black Boy. The picture book begins with lots of accolades, and it deserves every single one.

Bennett encourages Black boys (and by extension, their sisters) to work hard, not just in sports (as expected) but in every area of life. And, especially, to dream big! There’s not better message for children of color, whom society oftentimes dismisses as less than. Bennett’s mostly sepia-toned illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment. I just wish I could give it more than five stars!

I leave you with Bennett’s encouraging words:

"The game of life is the one game that they think Black Boys can’t win… But with the proper preparation, dedication, and determination, every Black Boy can be a winner….

"Run, Black Boy, run!
"Run in the direction of your dreams.
"You can change the world for us all!"

Amen to that!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group and Frances Lincoln Children's Books in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Black Boy by Martellus Bennett is a powerful, uplifting tribute to the limitless potential of Black boys. The book encourages them to see themselves as more than athletes, highlighting careers as leaders, doctors, poets, and more. The vibrant illustrations symbolize breaking barriers, like soaring through glass ceilings and reaching for "higher fruit." This book delivers an important message: Black boys should aim beyond society’s expectations and embrace their full potential. A must-read for inspiring pride and hope.

When I first read Dear Black Boy by Martellus Bennett, I felt an immediate connection, like the words were speaking directly to my sons. Each page felt like a warm hug, a reminder that they are seen, valued, and capable of so much more than the world might expect of them. Bennett’s words are powerful, urging black boys to dream beyond the limits that society often tries to impose, to see themselves as a creator, a thinker, and a force for change. The bold illustrations brought the message to life, making me feel proud of my son's identity and excited about the possibilities ahead. This book wasn’t just a story—it was a heartfelt call to action, a love letter to Black boys, reminding them of their strength, resilience, and limitless potential. Reading it left me inspired, motivated, and ready to chase every dream in my heart, even as a black woman.

This is a very important addition to any library, especially in regard to mental health. Wonderful illustrations add to the vibrancy of the book.

I love this book, genuinely. I can't accurately express just how important it is for young Black boys to have this book to support them and be there for them. A book is a small thing, but I know for a fact that this book in particular will mean the world to so many people. The author has a way of speaking directly to the reader, and it felt like I was reading a personalized pep talk. Additionally, the tone of the book is gentle yet still intense. What I mean by this is that this book really gets readers inspired, but not in a harsh or mean way. Lastly, the illustrations were done in a style that I've personally never seen before. This increases the uniqueness of this book, and it's really refreshing to see a different art style in a kids' book.
Bravo!!

Emphatic and unabashed, praising potential. A much needed book sure to encourage chasing your dreams.