BROWN BOY JOY

Childrens book

Dalilla Hermans is a Belgian writer, columnist and public figure. After making the children’s book Brown Girl Magic together with Fatinha Ramos, Dalilla approached me to make Brown Boy Joy. The second installment of this series, now dedicated to brown boys.

Contribution
Illustration
Graphic design

Team
Writen by: Dalilla Hermans
Published by: Charmaine Jacky

We made this book for kids who’s environment sometimes weighs on them. For kids that are brown and need to be proud of it.

Our process was to stop tap dancing around the conversation.

This book is based on real experiences that may offend some people because reality can be ugly. It’s a point of view of how it feels to be brown in a predominantly white country. And the only way to have this conversation is honestly.

Inspiration, sketches, draft designs

Trying out different creative concepts through tumbnailing

The problem we are solving

Black and brown kids are underrepresented in media, films, advertising and even history. More and more of them are unsure of their place in society. Prejudice from individuals even makes them unsure of their place in schools, stores, homes and streets.

The solution

Brown Boy Joy is a tool for parents to talk about these subjects with their kids. It can be a guide for kids to express how they feel towards grown ups. It shows a brown boy as the protagonist that overcomes his problems and finds his place in the world.

Representation

If a kid sees someone that looks like them succeeding they will believe they can do it too. This one little thing can change many lives!

Brown Boy Joy became a community full of people sharing this book.

It went from grandparent to parent to kids to brothers and sisters to friends to teachers and to students. We got many messages, stories, posts and most humbling of all we got pictures! (Michael Jordan crying face)