All Because You Matter by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier - ESSENTIAL

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Caldecott Honor Winner and Bryan Collier. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books. 2020. $18. 9781338574852.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE: HIGH

All Because You Matter is about why you matter. It gives many reasons why every child on earth matters, regardless the color of their skin, the length and difficulty to pronounce their name, where they are from, and so on. It talks about how we are all connected to amazing people in the past, and will be connected to amazing people in the future, and that we too can be an amazing person.

All Because You Matter is beautifully written. It is a book that is long overdue in today’s chaotic and difficult world. Every child on this earth matters, and every child needs to hear, know, and feel that they matter. This book is incredibly uplifting. This book is written in a way that can be applicable to every single child. It was most likely written to specifically uplift black children, but it is written in a way that truly can be applied to every single child. 

I can read this book to my white, privileged children, and they will feel empowered themselves. More importantly, it can teach my children that those without the same color of skin we have, or privileges we enjoy, also greatly matter, and they deserve every bit of our love and respect. It reminds children that there might be other children around them that do not feel as though they matter, and that it is their job to also uplift them and remind them that they matter. This book is essential for every home, library, and school.

While some might find that the support of the Black Lives Matter mention on the author/illustrators notes pages to be controversial, this book in the main context that would be read to children was not at all controversial. The mention is not necessarily tied to the organization, but merely the movement black lives matter. Whether you support the Black Lives Matter organization or not, this book was very clearly written to make sure every child understands that they, as an individual, matter. Making the point clear that a child matters cannot and should not ever be considered a controversial subject. 

Reviewer: AR/SL