This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Picture Book category by the New Mexico Book Award. It was recognised in the Intermediate category by the Young Hoosier Book Award. It also was recognised in the Author category by the Coretta Scott King Award. Presented annually since 1970 by the American Library Association to books by African-America authors and illustrators, this award recognizes excellence in promoting a deeper understanding of the African-American Experience. It was recognised by the South Carolina Childrens Junior and Young Adult Book Award. Also it was recognised in the Elementary category by the Virginia Readers Choice Award. It was recognised in the Grades 3-6 category by the Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award. It was recognised in the Ages 7-10 Years category by the Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens. It was recognised in the Storyteller category by the Spur Award. It was recognised in the Nonfiction category by the Indiefab Award. It was recognised in the Picture Book Illustration category by the Golden Kite.

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2016 by Lerner Publishing Group .

J. Patrick Lewis is the Poetry Foundation's 2011-2013 Children's Poet Laureate. He is the award-winning author of more than 75 books for young people and lives in Westerville, Ohio. R. Gregory Christie lives in Brooklyn, New York.