Van G. Garrett is the winner of the Poetry Question National Chapbook Contest for Scrap and of the Best Book of African American Poetry from the Texas Association of Authors for 49: Wings and Prayers. He writes poetry, picture books, and fiction, and he is a musician and visual artist. vanggarrettpoet.com, Twitter: @vanggarrett1, Instagram: @vanggarrett

Reggie Brown is an artist with a background in graphic design. His multicultural upbringing as an African American and Filipino man drives his passion for illustrating children's stories and bringing underrepresented voices alive through art. He is a member of SCBWI and lives in San Diego with his wife. trendingcreativedesign.com, Twitter/Instagram: @reggiebrownart

"A brilliantly written and illustrated ode to sneakers and sneakerheads, young and old. A gift to us all." -- Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Garrett and Brown have crafted a fresh and delightful anthem not just to shoes but also the magical way they make us feel." -- Oge Mora, Caldecott Honor-winning author of Thank You, Omu! and Saturday

"Fresh and fly with art that shines, Kicks is an ode to the perfect shoe for you." -- Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author

"Making his children's book debut, poet Garrett employs short lines and kid-friendly metaphors... Brown (Who Are Your People?) portrays a vibrant cityscape populated by a stylishly sneaker-clad community of color with varying skin tones and body types." -- Publishers Weekly

"An upbeat, affirming story that works especially well for #RepresentationMatters and Black Boy Joy collections. Complementary books include Floyd Cooper's Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan (2004) and Derrick Barnes' Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (2017)."
-- Booklist

"An excellent read-aloud... This fun, lyrical free verse poem pays homage to the joy a pair of new shoes can bring, and its colorful illustrations work well to enhance the joy of the experience. A recommended purchase... especially where poetry is popular." -- School Library Journal

"A charming balance of enthusiasm and pride. Pair this with Boelts' Those Shoes for a storytime appreciative of some jazzy footwear." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Publisher: Versify

Pub date: 2022-04-19

Length: 32 pages