BOYOGI

When a father returns from overseas military duty changed, his son misses who he used to be—until both find healing through yoga.

Before coming back from “far away,” Daddy slept deeply, liked to talk, and was fun to be around. Now that he’s home, Daddy has nightmares, is angry, and spends a lot of time alone. When the child narrator—referred to as Butta Bean—asks his mama what’s wrong with Daddy, she explains that bad things that happened overseas had “harmed his mind” and that the family is trying to figure out how to make him better. One day, Mama brings Daddy and Butta Bean to the YMCA for a yoga class. Daddy likes it and continues going, and the child accompanies him. With time spent consistently in yoga and in therapy, Daddy begins to feel better and is able to have fun with his family again. Moore and Denmon shine a powerful spotlight on a difficult topic, treading carefully and offering understanding and hope for families of veterans and other traumatized adults. Depicting self-care, wellness, and healthy, supportive relationships in the context of a loving Black family facing a serious challenge, this story makes a transformative contribution to the world of picture books. Denmon’s muted palette, with contrasting yellow and blue tones, effectively denotes happy and gloomy emotions and times, strengthening readers’ comprehension of the characters’ evolution. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Necessary and memorable.