We Miss You, George Floyd

"In We Miss You, George Floyd, Shannon Gibney and Leeya Rose Jackson engage the topic of police brutality in a clear, accessible, and ultimately hopeful way. It is a heartening call for young readers to speak up and stay involved in the ongoing fight for justice and a moving cry for society to actively do and be better for the sake of our kids." —Tameka Fryer Brown, award-winning author of That Flag and Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm's Fight for Change

 

"Gibney writes in simple, straightforward, and age-appropriate language[...] The illustrations, dominated by hues of purple, capture the cacophony of emotions that emerged in the aftermath of Floyd’s death. [...] Heavy yet cathartic. We will not forget."—Kirkus Reviews

"This moving picture book uses the point of view of a young girl to show how a generation of young people was stunned by the videotaped murder of a Black man pleading for his life. [...] Strands of color weave through every spread, showing the connections between people, protest, grieving and memory and anchoring the event in the country’s collective memory. [...] A very necessary book for kids who remember this event."—Youth Services Book Review, 4.5/5 stars

"As the illustrations signal the broader national context [...] our narrator channels her grief into art, first to pay homage to those who have been killed by police, and then to imagine a better future. Readers witness the journey of a child learning to navigate her own sadness and be part of a community while just beginning to see and understand a bigger picture. This honest and stunningly accessible perspective on a pivotal moment in recent American history will speak directly to children in a wide range of ages while also resonating with adults."—Booklist, starred review

"This picture-book tribute to George Floyd is eloquent and powerful in its simplicity. The words flow like a song. [...] We Miss You, George Floyd invites us to pause, to question and to participate, however we are able, in the fight for justice."—Bookology

"As an award-winning author, educator, and activist, Gibney gives us a powerful testimony and teaching tool to encourage our children to speak up in the fight for justice and the hope of creating a better world."—Insight News

"A writer, educator, activist and mother, Shannon Gibney presents the heartbreaking story of the death of George Floyd. Children will hear about this, so before they do – and when they have questions – Gibney’s book is a wonderful way to open that discussion."—Greenville News

"Jackson’s illustrations are warm and dreamlike — a repeating set of wavy lines run throughout the pages like a journey of thought."—MinnPost

"The illustrations really bring the time and place to readers in a vibrant way."—Reading Through Life