Let It Shine!: A Celebration of You by Carole Boston Weatherford, Tequitia Andrews
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on January 20, 2026
ISBN: 0593805755
Genres: Cultural / African American
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Using the song “This Little Light of Mine” as inspiration, the book uses everyday moments and historical figures to encourages readers to “make a difference.” This is more of an inspirational book to give as a present for graduation than a meaningful story for children. All the characters are brown skinned and notables such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Shirley Chisholm, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglas are used as examples, but there is no explanation as to why they are inspirational. It is assumed that the reader will know. The refrain of “Let it shine Let it shine Let it shine” is used repeatedly throughout and creative additional verses are introduced to the well-loved song. The song has been interpreted a number of times. (There is a list of people who have recorded the song in the back of the book.) This book is available as an audiobook, and I think it would be interesting to listen to that rendition. As a paper book form, I prefer the Ashley Bryon version.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library