I Am Somebody

The creators urge reader empowerment with this message-driven story about taking action. During a school day, a Black child witnesses numerous moments when things aren’t as they should be—from trash on the sidewalk and queue-jumping students to microaggressions and student selfishness. In each instance, the narrator reflects on the need for change, applying the refrain “Somebody should.” Slowly, the narrator awakens to the idea that “I am Somebody,” and examples pivot to positive interventions and the way they might inspire others. Williams’s sometimes formal-sounding first-person phrasings and Evans’s flatly colored, character-driven renderings convey moments of helpfulness and activism as the protagonist picks up trash, serves lunch at a cafeteria, and protests for the environment. A concluding affirmation—“I am Somebody/ who will make a difference in the world”—articulates a can-do takeaway. Ages 4–8. (June)