“We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens is our pick for a poignant read for Black History Month. Based on a song by Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, this delightful children’s book blends history, music, and imagination into a captivating tale.

At a sparrow’s urging, a young girl feels a mysterious trembling in her arms, a lightness in her feet, a longing to be free. Her mother tells her that her Granny Liza experienced the same, as did many of their people before her. Perhaps it’s time, Mama says, to slip the bonds of earth and join the journey started long ago. To hold each other tight and rise. The story draws on lyrics from the song “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell. Which in turn draws on a heritage of African folklore. This incantatory dialogue between a mother and daughter paired with startlingly beautiful illustrations celebrates love, resilience, and the spiritual power of the “old-time ways”—tradition and shared cultural memory to sustain and uplift.

“We Could Fly” is a love letter to the beautiful feeling of ancestral connection.

It is a magical and inspiring book that will captivate readers of all ages. The dreamy illustrations by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu are a song unto themselves. Whether enjoyed as a bedtime story or used in the classroom, it serves as a reminder of the transformative power of story telling, folk tales, music and the boundless possibilities of the human spirit. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a heartwarming and inspirational read.