Review: M Is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose

'Be bold. Be fearless. Be you.'

At a glance, what seems like a straightforward alphabet book for preschoolers is, in fact, a 40-page unapologetic celebration of being Black which, content-wise, feels more suited to children in Year 2 upwards. 

Inspired by the lack of Black literature during her childhood, Rose speaks directly to Black children, providing lighthearted instruction on how to navigate life successfully in an often racially discriminatory world. 

Each page or spread features a uniquely embellished letter of the alphabet, accompanied by an eclectic mix of confident joyful Black boys and girls acting out each instruction, all of which is beautifully drawn by author-artist Tiffany Rose.

Rose's gorgeous, dramatically inked illustrations support perfectly the affirming text. For example, on the page about loving Afros, the letter A is littered with Afro picks and wide-toothed combs, and on the page acknowledging the achievements of President Obama, the letter O is decorated with a black-and-white version of the US flag. 

Other positive messages for children include embracing their ethnicity and natural hair, and feeling free to be creative, ambitious, and authentic. 

What I particularly love is that the inclusive approach doesn't stop at ethnicity. Rose goes further by highlighting underrepresented Black children with physical disabilities or other medical conditions, such as vitiligo, albinism, and alopecia. This intersectional approach doesn't feel contrived; it is sensitively and assuredly done.

Overall, the book has a strong US tone with references to African-American history (Dr King, Malcolm X, the Obamas), hip hop, and Americanisms such as 'melanated'. The mention of a Black prime minister on the page for 'I' is a helpful UK substitution, although this does jar with the US Constitution backdrop. 

Though the positive uplifting message is largely successful, the pages on empowerment, leadership, and being vibrant souls didn't quite land as well as they should. They may give an unintended message that the whole world is anti-Black people which, perhaps, is not the best position to take with impressionable young children who may or may not already doubt their worth.

Overall, this is a fantastically powerful and uplifting picture book that encourages Black children to feel confident, proud, and comfortable in their own skin.

M Is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose (Macmillian Children's Books 2020) can be ordered from Round Table Books. 

Guide for teachers and parents

Genre	Non-fiction: instructional
Child-led interests (EYFS)	N/A
Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)	Year 2 upwards
Curriculum links/topics (EYFS/NC)	Speaking and listening (Y1-6)         ·  listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers         ·  ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge         ·  use relevant strategies to build their vocabulary History: the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements PSHE & Citizenship: celebrating differences and achievements and thinking positively
Suitability	shared-reading, independent reader, home reader, school library, class library
General features	Imperative/command words, key words highlighted in bold, alphabetical order, rich unfamiliar vocabulary (e.g. statement, embrace, unapologetically, canvas, empowerment)
Does the plot or style engage/move me?	Yes
UK spelling or phrases?	Yes

All the Black children's books that I review are checked against my Jericho Benchmark.