A Place Inside of Me-A Poem to Heal the Heart

A Place Inside of Me~A Poem to Heal the Heart Written by Zetta Elliott

Illustrated by Noa Denmon–Book Review

Thank you Kelsey Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a review copy of this book. 

My opinion of this book is my own.  

Synopsis

There is a place deep inside where all his feelings hide.

Feelings that won’t be explored until he looks inside.

The emotions change throughout the year and reflecting of the times.

The feelings must be expressed in order to heal and find peace.

My Thoughts

This poem reflects upon a young man learning to process the emotions he has and how they have changed after his community was shook up by a police shooting.

I always think about the children having to grow up with everything that has happened this past year and how they can be helped to process the events.  Much like generations before had to, and peace was finally felt for most.

I think about my own daughter as she grows up and I can only hope that the world would be a better place for her.

This book is great with showing how a child goes through his emotions and can open discussions with our children to find ways to heal ourselves and our communities. The author reflectively put emotions into words and the illustrator also beautifully illustrated the emotions throughout the poem.

About the Author and Illustrator (From Book Cover and Press Release)

Zetta Elliott is a Black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children.  Her poetry has been published in We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, and her essays have appeared in School Library Journal, the Huffington Post, and Publishers Weekly.  Her picture book Bird won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for the New Talent, the Lee & Low New Voices Honor Award, and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers.  It was also a Kirkus Reviews  Best Book, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book, and an ALA Notable Children’s Book.  She lives in West Philly.  Her website is www.zettaelliott.com.

Noa Denmon is a Philadelphia-based artist and illustrator.  She is a graduate of the University of the Arts, holding a BFA in illustration and an MAT in arts and teaching.  She loves patterns, pups, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a great cup of coffee, and all spicy foods.  This is her first picture book. Her website is www.noadenmon.com.