TOGETHER, UNITED (AN ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER BOOK)

In celebrated creators Charles and Collier’s latest collaboration, affirmations abound and differences transform into points of connection.

The newest title in this series—which includes All Because You Matter (2020) and We Are Here (2023)—opens with a diverse group of schoolchildren on a field trip to the planetarium. As they marvel at the celestial bodies above them, Charles weaves spellbinding verse about the Big Bang: “A mighty, mighty force…bringing us / feet bound to the ground…together… // You and me— / born of stars, / stories, / and dreams / big enough / to shake up / and WAKE UP / the whole universe!” Shifting between second-person, first-person singular, and first-person plural points of view, her propulsive words assure readers of the power of their voices, their capacity for stirring up “good trouble,” and their myriad talents—and emphasize that while we individually possess great abilities, we are all better together. Mesmerizing as always, Collier’s signature collage illustrations underscore that much-needed message, depicting the exuberant kids romping amid sumptuous planetary backdrops and gazing down at a map of the Earth. As in the other titles in this empowering series, overlapping leaves featuring colorful patterns or slivers of people’s faces appear throughout, creating an eye-catching visual motif.

A lushly illustrated, uplifting work that beckons us to unite around our common humanity.