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

On a neighborhood basketball court that once echoed only with summer swishes and skateboard wheels, a Black child now feels every heartbeat of his community after a police shooting rips the humid air, turning carefree July into an autumn of fear and a winter of protest chants for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform. Award-winning poet Zetta Elliott and Caldecott-honor illustrator Noa Denmon layer sun-bright yellows over grief-tinted blues, showing educators and faith leaders how one boy’s shifting seasons—joy, worry, anger, resolve—mirror the emotional weather in classrooms and pews nationwide. As vigil candles flicker beside chalk art and cardboard signs, the boy reaches a springtime of pride and peace, proving that healing can bloom where hurt once hid. This acclaimed poem-in-pictures, honored by the ALA, NCTE, and the Today Show, offers students concrete language for big feelings and invites adults to guide discussions on empathy, resilience, and hope. Will your readers find the place inside themselves where courage sprouts next? Tap the blue ➕ to Save to List for later inspiration, or hit the bold arrow to Learn More and connect your classroom, youth group, or congregation to this heart-mending journey.