Today we’re celebrating the (almost) Book Birthday of BLACK BOY, RISE by multi-award-winning poet and author Brynne Barnes, and superstar illustrator Bryan Collier (Chronicle).
This must-read picture book releases April 1st. (Still time to pre-order!)
Told in lyrical free verse, it’s a perfect book to savor during National Poetry Month
–or any day of the year.
Readers may remember Brynne’s not-to-be-missed Book Birthday celebration of BLACK GIRL RISING.
We are thrilled to have her back!
About the Book:
This timeless anthem acknowledges the challenges of Black boyhood while celebrating its glory. BLACK BOY, RISE is a lyrical tribute to all that it means to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and draw inspiration from voices past in order to forge a bright future.
“A stirring and powerful celebration…. In its empowering, joyful depictions of Black experiences, this book inspires, uplifts, and affirms the beauty of Black boyhood”
― School Library Journal, Starred Review
“A uniquely gorgeous portrayal of Black boy joy.”
― Kirkus Reviews
Let’s ask some questions!
The Evolution of a Companion Book
Q 1. Since this is a companion book to BLACK GIRL RISING, what was it like to develop the premise of this book? How did the text evolve?
Brynne Barnes: BLACK BOY, RISE is so special to me because I had already written BLACK GIRL RISING. At this time I was re-writing BLACK BOY, RISE (for the hundredth time), I was pregnant with my son, Santino, the little boy I was writing this for.
Q 2. Were there any discoveries or challenges you experienced while writing this book?
Brynne Barnes: Yes. Because I had a specific child in mind, I imagined this scenario: What if the only message I had to give to my son was on the pages of this book? What would I want to say to him?
Listening
Q 3. In your interview about BLACK GIRL RISING, you said, “Literature – it belongs to all of us. It shapes us. And so, when we write, we’re not writing alone, or as one. We’re writing as 10,000+ voices throughout time that we have read — that have stayed with us.” How did you go about choosing the selection of inspirational voices and poets like Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, and W.E.B. Du Bois, mentioned in BLACK BOY, RISE?
Brynne Barnes: Wow, thank you for this question! Interestingly enough, the voices sort of came to me the same way they did with BLACK GIRL RISING. They occurred to me as I was writing. In a sea of voices, a sea of verses, these are the voices that rose to the surface.
Lyrical Text + Stunning Illustrations
Q 4. What is your favorite spread or line of text?
Brynne Barnes: My all-time favorite line is —
“You are the wildest dream to ever put on skin.”
Q 5. The illustrations by Bryan Collier are stunning and fit your gorgeous, lyrical text perfectly. Were there any surprises that Bryan brought to the project?
Brynne Barnes: Thank you! I absolutely love what Bryan did here. Every spread holds a surprise, and I was delighted by the journey he created for this. The visual story he created and curated for the words is just…chef’s kiss. The joy of Black boyhood enlivens each page, and the journey from motherland to the States, from nature to city, from South to North, how our identities are ingrained in this place — and beyond…it’s ethereal and tangible all at the same time.
What’s next?
Q 6. Are there more projects in the queue that you can share?
Brynne Barnes: Yes! I’m excited to share my next book release will be in 2026 with Simon & Schuster. It’s entitled Color Me A World, and it’s about neurodivergence and synesthesia. My son, Santino, inspired this book, too. It’s also my first book written in free verse.
Dear Readers…
Q 7. What do you hope readers will take away from reading BLACK BOY, RISE?
Brynne Barnes: I hope readers take away that they are dreamers, they are doers, they are “grit and grace” and are in a never-ending state of becoming.
Endless thanks to Brynne Barnes for sharing this gorgeous book on the blog today.
To learn more about her work, check out her web site and follow her on social media:
TwitterX: @BrynneBarnes
Instagram: brynnebarnes
Next upon the blog:
We chat with Matt Forrest Esenwine about a new picture book anthology
featuring the words of 20 poets,
perfect for National Poetry Month & Earth Month:
A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS, illus. by Jamey Christoph (Eerdmans BFYR).
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