Review: Hey You! by Dapo Adeola, illustrated by Diane Ewen, Onyinye Iwu, Jade Orlando, Bex Glendining, Derick Brooks, Joelle Avelino, Dunni Mustapha, Kingsley Nebechi, Chanté Timothy, Nicole Miles, Camilla Sucre, Jobe Anderson, Alyissa Johnson, Charlot Kristensen, Sharee Miller, Reggie Brown, Selom Sunu, Gladys Jose and Dapo Adeola

Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and subsequent BLM protests, a wave of affirming picture books was published to positively celebrate and speak directly to Black children. Most notable were All Because You Matter by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier (2020) and I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C James (2021). Now this latest jewel Hey You!, from acclaimed illustrator Dapo Adeola, joins them as a lyrical Black anthem brimming with hope, positivity and love.

Debut author, Adeola, offers pearls of wisdom to an innocent newborn Black boy, to prep him for his formative years through to early parenthood. Beyond his wonderfully uplifting text, what makes the book so intriguing is its mode of creation. The work is a multi-artist collaboration between Adeola and 17 brilliant Black illustrators from around the globe — the first picture book of its kind, I believe, to be published in the UK. Additionally, graphic designer Alyissa Johnson is responsible for bold yet playful typography on the striking yellow-and-black cover and front matter.

Each illustrator is allocated one double-page spread in the book, except for Adeola whose two spreads bookend the rest. All the creatives bring to the pages their own authentic perspectives on growing up Black, expressing unique interpretations of Adeola's sincere and emotive text. Clever use of a cheerful sunflower motif ties all the colour-filled pages together, preventing the 18 distinct, illustrative styles from feeling incoherent, while the words and images marry effectively. 

The overall effect is an eye-catching, eclectic representation not only of Black creative talent but also of Black children in different countries and contexts, showing the heterogeneous forms Black identity can take. Adeola is sharing his heartfelt hopes and dreams for Black babies everywhere, so that they, just like sunflowers, are encouraged to seek out the right conditions to grow tall, blossom and reach their full potential. 

There is so much I could say about the stunning illustrations that it's impossible to do them all justice here. One of my particular favourites is Adeola's exceptional front cover showing a super-cute Black baby snoozing snuggly in his parents' correctly coloured palms. The portrayal of such an intimate moment brings you close to tears and for a Black family to dominate a book cover, accompanied by 19 Black people's names emblazoned in gold, it's all the more comforting — as a Black reader, you feel that you are finally 'home'!

Another strong spread is Dunni Mustapha's Black teenager, with so rarely depicted, inherited vitiligo, as she listens to the newly discovered stories of her ancestors. Also, Adeola's breathtakingly moving end spread, depicting expectant same-sex parents, is possibly the most progressive image I've seen in a picture book for young children in recent years.

Some have dismissed picture books similar to Hey You! as didactic and overly sentimental but this shows a total failure to understand what growing up Black feels like in a world where you are persistently perceived as lesser or even subhuman. Mistreatment of Black people ranges from their erasure from published books, to suppression of creativity or free expression, to the most horrific: being randomly killed because of your brown skin.

Many of these various forms of covert or overt Black obliteration are explored in the book in a fairly direct yet warm way and, crucially, Hey You! offers children support in navigating these day-to-day struggles while helping to build their self-confidence and sense of pride in their identity. It also allows Black children to see themselves represented in a book wholly dedicated to them, and, although our littlest readers are unlikely to grasp the meaning of all the text during shared reading, it's an enduring book that they will enjoy returning to, again and again, as they grow.  

This conceptually groundbreaking, inclusive picture book will be treasured by children of all ages and would make the perfect gift for expectant parents. Once read you will carry it in your heart forever — it's an inspirational, empowering guide for Black children everywhere, and a soothing antidote to the racial climate of our times.

Hey You! written by Dapo Adeola, illustrated by Diane Ewen, Onyinye Iwu, Jade Orlando, Bex Glendining, Derick Brooks, Joelle Avelino, Dunni Mustapha, Kingsley Nebechi, Chanté Timothy, Nicole Miles, Camilla Sucre, Jobe Anderson, Alyissa Johnson, Charlot Kristensen, Sharee Miller, Reggie Brown, Selom Sunu, Gladys Jose and Dapo Adeola, is available from Bookshop.

Check out my Black Children's Books directory for suggested suitability of all the books I review.  All the books that I read are also checked against my Jericho Benchmark.

Resources for teachers

Hey You! Resource Pack by Penguin Lit in Colour