Place Inside of Me, A: A Poem to Heal the Heart

A young Black youth has his world turned upside down when a Black girl is shot by police in his community. As he travels through the year, he moves through a range of emotions that are hiding deep in a place inside of him: joy, sorrow, fear, anger, hunger, pride, peace, compassion, hope, and love. As he experiences each one, he moves closer to processing the tragedy of her death and as he takes part in Black Lives Matter events and other community experiences he learns that even in times of struggle strength can emerge. This powerful picture book in verse provides a way for teachers to address sensitive, timely, and relevant topics with elementary students. Pre-teaching recommended.