Your Crown Shines: For Ketanji Brown Jackson and You

Gr 1-5–A young Ketanji Brown in pigtails and striped socks is shown arriving at school after her father drops her off. Even when Brown was young, her parents instilled hope and perseverance in her, so she is not disturbed by any limitations people tried to put on her. When a high school guidance counselor told her she was dreaming too big and needed to set her sights lower, she was not deterred or discouraged. She didn’t let others decide where she should fit. Looking to notable Black women from the past like Harriet Tubman and Sister ­Roberta Tharpe, young Brown continued to press forward, overcoming the obstacles in her way to become the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The crowns of every Black woman past and present light the way for the powerful and brave little Black girls of today. This beautifully illustrated picture book highlights a particular life while also encouraging Black girls everywhere to proudly wear their crowns. Coulter creatively combines traditional media like paint and yarn with scanned images of court documents, speeches, and opinions to create a truly unique reading experience. This picture book is a shining example of the past, present, and future of Black excellence and empowerment. ­