Kicks

by Van G. Garrett, Reggie Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

“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

A fun, lyrical debut picture book, Kicks is an essential read for sneaker fans of all ages, from award-winning poet Van G. Garrett and New York Times bestselling illustrator Reggie Brown.

This is a love letter to sneakers. But not just any sneakers. Only the flyest, floatiest, you-est kicks you can get—the ones that let you soar!

This colorful, rhythmic adventure has something to offer anyone who prizes a great pair of shoes and any reader who loves to play with words.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358574279
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	939,118
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Van G. Garrett is the author of Kicks, his debut picture book, and Juneteenth. An acclaimed poet, he won the Poetry Question National Chapbook Contest for Scrap and the Best Book of African American Poetry from the Texas Association of Authors for 49: Wings and Prayers. He is a musician and visual artist.

Reggie Brown is an artist and children’s book illustrator. He has a background in corporate graphic design and is now focusing on illustrating for children. His multicultural upbringing as an African American and Filipino man is what drives his true passion of illustrating children’s stories and bringing underrepresented voices alive through his art. Reggie is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and lives in San Diego, California, where he enjoys eating burritos, watching Star Wars, and spending time with his wife. You can visit him at reggiebrownart.com

Editorial Reviews

02/28/2022

A young sneakerhead extols the virtues of brand-new kicks in this picture book ode to “magic for your soles/ and soul.” Carrying saved “shoe money” in a Mason jar, dark-skinned Joshua—whose room is lined with shoe boxes and related posters—hurries to a shop to acquire an “ELECTRIC” pair of Air Max 3’s. Having donned them, Joshua goes out for a wander, head held high—past a shoe store line, across a park’s honeycomb-patterned path (“Leather not creased, tight laces,/honeycomb bottoms sweet on the floor”), and to a playground full of kids in sneakers (“Heat for your feet,/ gloves for your toes”). Making his children’s book debut, poet Garrett employs short lines and kid-friendly metaphors to convey how “NEW KICKS feel like/treats for your feet./ Cereal in your biggest bowl.” In unlined digital art that references Jean-Michel Basquiat, meanwhile, 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. Though the creators suggest that kicks can be “Legendary./ Like LeBron and Jordan.// Danica, Serena, and Simone,” they also hint at their day-to-day utility—“Kicks help you shine.../ even when you have/ a shoestring-tight allowance”—in this sure-footed portrait of sneaker culture. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator’s agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"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

From the Publisher

"Fresh and fly with art that shines, Kicks is an ode to the perfect shoe for you."

Kwame Mbalia

"A brilliantly written and illustrated ode to sneakers and sneakerheads, young and old. A gift to us all."

Angie Thomas

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

"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

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

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

04/01/2022

Gr 2–6—This colorful, free verse ode to new shoes is a fun celebration of the confidence a new pair of kicks can bring. The rhythm of the poem is enticing and would make for an excellent read-aloud. Key adjectives are in bold and presented in a different font than the main text, which could be useful to highlight descriptive language in a classroom setting. On one page, white text appears on a light gray, mottled background, which could be difficult for some readers to see. The illustrations are bright, bold, and work well to enhance the exuberance of the text. The main character is a young Black boy, and most of the supporting characters are also people of color; the characters are pictured throughout their community paying homage to the great feeling of having new shoes. VERDICT 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 for most collections, especially where poetry is popular or supports the curriculum.—Ellen Conlin

School Library Journal