A single illustrated poem touches on the multitude of feelings-joy, sorrow, fear, anger, pride, peace, compassion, hope-that all live deep inside a young Black boy as he moves through the world on his skateboard. The background images show scenes occurring in the boy's life, and in the Black community at large, that inspire each of the emotions he talks about in a narrative that concludes with the boy making a statement of affirmation of self-love. The shifting perspectives of the robust illustrations underscore the multidimensional feelings and thoughts that affirm the complexity of the narrator's emotional reality.
(Ages 6-9)

Caldecott Honor Book
Today Show Best Book for the Holidays
ALA Notable Book for All Ages
ALSC Notable Children's Book
NCTE Notable Poetry Book
Evanston Public Library's Top 100 Great Book for Kids
Nerdy Award Winner for Single Poem Picture Book
Bank Street Best Books of the Year


In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year.

There is a place inside of me
a space deep down inside of me
where all my feelings hide.

Summertime is filled with joy—skateboarding and playing basketball—until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace.

In her stunning debut, illustrator Noa Denmon articulates the depth and nuances of a child’s experiences following a police shooting—through grief and protests, healing and community—with washes of color as vibrant as his words.

Here is a groundbreaking narrative that can help all readers—children and adults alike—talk about the feelings hiding deep inside each of us.