Review: I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C James

I am a non-stop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference-maker. 

A leader.

Legs astride — standing tall — arms folded: a confident Black boy assumes a superhero power pose, asserting he is 'every good thing' and you realise, immediately, this is not a cover image you've seen before. 

In a society where people instinctively flinch when a nearby Black male moves, talks, or simply breathes, this powerful picture book encourages us to examine derogatory perceptions. Habitual racial micro-aggressions can distort Black males’ self-worth from childhood — and, no, we are not immune to these behaviours in the UK.  

I Am Every Good Thing, co-created by the award-winning US author-illustrator duo Derrick Barnes and illustrator Gordon C James, is a powerful poetic antidote to ingrained negative stereotypes through a lyrical outpouring of love and admiration for Black boyhood from cover to cover. 

We hear the voice of a bright young Black narrator who, along with his peers, is full of fun, ambition, passion, creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and compassion. Barnes’ repetitive 'I am...' structure demands we, at last, listen to a boy representing all Black and brown-skinned boys as he shares their hopes, dreams, and fears, all the while imparting to us positive mantras for success.

Barnes, who was inspired to write the piece for his four sons, is also astute in his observations of Black-male tropes. In the spread celebrating the golden age of hip hop he points to the boy's innate musicality while challenging the all-Black-men-have rhythm overgeneralisation with a cheeky aside: 'but you already knew that'.

James' sumptuous oil-painted illustrations, with striking brush strokes, marry beautifully with the rich language in the free verse. Each spread is dominated either by high-energy scenes that burst with colour or quiet intimate family moments swathed in deep moody purples. The lack of white space on each page heightens the sense of immediacy: readers are right there alongside the determined young boys, experiencing significant moments in their childhood — every triumph or temporary stumble. 

James continues the red colour scheme throughout judiciously to reinforce the boy's powerful superhero-esque status — party balloons, a pair of headphones, eyewear, and the boys' clothing. Subtle details, such as a raised yellow fist of Black protest on a helmet, signifies that the struggle against racial discrimination is ever-present in everyday environments — school, the swimming pool, a crowded street, or a skateboard park near home.

But one of the most arresting images in the book is when a proud all-knowing Black boy sits crowned with a saintly halo and gently supported by his ancient African ancestor, which not only emphasises his innocence and goodness but acts as a sobering commemoration of all young Black males who have tragically lost their lives due to racism in recent times. 

After shared reading and analysis, children in KS2 might enjoy writing their own 'I am...' poems in Barnes’ style, explaining why they too are every good thing. Their poems could be turned into a class poetry book with a superhero cover and artwork inspired by James’ red, yellow, and blue/purple colour scheme (PSHE/art and design). Already a bestseller in the US, this timely book has been reversioned for the UK market, and although it has a strong US feel, the empowering message is universal for children worldwide.  

As a Black girl growing up in 1970s Britain within a predominately white community, I desperately needed picture books like this — books that would have promoted my right to exist, celebrated my limitless potential, and reminded me that I am loved.

I am Every Good Thing is an urgent, emotive, and affirming text that will empower Black children everywhere, and I am relieved future generations of boys, and girls, will have its uplifting message ringing loudly in their ears.

Note: Gordon C James' son Gabriel modelled for the cover of the book. 

Guide for teachers and parents

Genre	Poetry: free verse
Child-led interests (EYFS)	N/A
Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)	KS2 (lower/upper)
Curriculum links/topics (EYFS/NC)	English: Spoken language (Y1-6): ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge  participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play/improvisations and debates give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings Reading comprehension (Y3/4): listening to and discussing a wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks using dictionaries to check the meaning of words that they have read discussing words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination recognising some different forms of poetry [for example, free verse, narrative poetry] checking that the text makes sense to them, discussing their understanding, and explaining the meaning of words in context asking questions to improve their understanding of a text drawing inferences such as inferring characters’ feelings, thoughts, and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence identifying how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning participate in discussion about both books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, taking turns and listening to what others say Art and design: to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay] PSHE: being positive (self-belief/resilience), anti-bullying; my community;
Suitability	whole-class teaching, class library, school library, independent reader, home reader
General features	present tense; single-voice 1st-person narration with some repetition; stanzas with irregular numbers of lines; rich language/imagery: similes and metaphors; sound effects: assonance, eg, drum thumps/glides for miles, and onomatopoeia, eg, boom bap, and alliteration, eg, perfect paper aeroplanes/star-filled sky of solutions/hugs, a hand to hold; some statements/questions directed at the reader, eg, but you already knew that; descriptions supporting illustrations that add layers of meaning

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