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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream
Set in the world of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from Marvel Studios, The Courage to Dream is an inspiring picture book about a young Wakandan finding her destiny, from two New York Times best-selling creators.
The Courage to Dream tells the story of Assata, a young Wakandan who hopes to become one of the Dora Milaje, the warriors who protect Wakanda. But because of Assata’s disability, she lets go of her dream.
Assata’s light shows through all the same, introducing her to surprising friends: the princess Shuri, the warrior Okoye, and the powerful M’Baku. But only Assata can give herself what she’s missing: the courage to dream.
New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph (The Black Friend) and New York Times best-selling illustrator Nikkolas Smith (The 1619 Project: Born on the Water) bring Wakanda to life in this inspiring picture book about discovering who you can truly be.
The Courage to Dream tells the story of Assata, a young Wakandan who hopes to become one of the Dora Milaje, the warriors who protect Wakanda. But because of Assata’s disability, she lets go of her dream.
Assata’s light shows through all the same, introducing her to surprising friends: the princess Shuri, the warrior Okoye, and the powerful M’Baku. But only Assata can give herself what she’s missing: the courage to dream.
New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph (The Black Friend) and New York Times best-selling illustrator Nikkolas Smith (The 1619 Project: Born on the Water) bring Wakanda to life in this inspiring picture book about discovering who you can truly be.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Joseph
9 books390 followersFrederick Joseph is a Westchester raised two-time New York Times bestselling author, and a “genius across genres.” His books include a poetry collection, We Alive, Beloved, two books of nonfiction, Patriarchy Blues, and The Black Friend, a collaboration, Better Than We Found It, and a children’s book, The Courage to Dream, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Joseph’s books have been named an Amazon Editors’ Pick, notable by the International Literacy Association, Best Children’s Book of the Year by Bank Street College, a Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice selection, Booklist Editors’ Choice, and more. He has written for The Boston Globe, Essence, Huffington Post, AdWeek, and Cosmopolitan, and won both the Letter Review Poetry prize and a Letter Review Essay prize. His most recent writing on politics and culture can be found on his Substack. He lives with his wife Porsche and dog Stokely in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2023
I had no idea what to expect from this book, and I was blown away! The pictures were stunning, the story was beautiful, and the message was excellent.
Assata did not let her disability stop her from achieving her dreams. There's no "cured disability" trope. She's intelligent and won herself an apprenticeship with Shuri, but gave that up to follow her dream of joining the Dora.
Assata did not let her disability stop her from achieving her dreams. There's no "cured disability" trope. She's intelligent and won herself an apprenticeship with Shuri, but gave that up to follow her dream of joining the Dora.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
Impossible means you have to find another way to make something possible -M’Baku
October 29, 2022
I just got an advanced copy in the mail today. Assata's chair is so sleek, the emotion depicted is engaging, I just want to frame the page where she cries by the river. Great artwork and storytelling that leaves everyone feeling empowered to follow their dreams.
February 8, 2023
Read it to my babies. They loved it.
February 25, 2023
This Marvel book is extremely wordy and preachy, and even though the illustrations are nice, this did not work for me at all. During the month of February, my coworkers and I have made an extra effort to include Black authors and illustrators in our storytime picks, and I hoped that this would work for our superhero theme. It did not, since the book presumes an existing understanding of the story world and is way too long for most kids in the 0-5 age group. Instead, we read
I Am Amazing!
as our Black representation choice, and it was so much better.
This Black Panther picture book is just for major fans of the film series. It doesn't make sense unless you're already very familiar with Wakanda and characters from the movies, and even though the disability element will appeal to many people, the book never shows how the little girl in a wheelchair gets integrated into Wakanda's group of warriors. She keeps fighting for her dreams and stands up to naysayers, and then gets accepted for training, but there's no explanation of how the warriors incorporate her and her high-powered wheelchair into their work protecting Wakanda. I wish that more of the high word count had gone towards expanding the story, rather than just repeating the same positive messages again and again.
This Black Panther picture book is just for major fans of the film series. It doesn't make sense unless you're already very familiar with Wakanda and characters from the movies, and even though the disability element will appeal to many people, the book never shows how the little girl in a wheelchair gets integrated into Wakanda's group of warriors. She keeps fighting for her dreams and stands up to naysayers, and then gets accepted for training, but there's no explanation of how the warriors incorporate her and her high-powered wheelchair into their work protecting Wakanda. I wish that more of the high word count had gone towards expanding the story, rather than just repeating the same positive messages again and again.
July 29, 2023
A beautiful lesson in following your dreams and pushing the impossible aside.
All Assata wants to do is become a Dora Milaje warrior of Wakanda like her grandmother and cousin, however, because of an incurable disease that not even the greatest of minds in Wakanda can cure, Assata believes that her dream of becoming a warrior is impossible. Through the help of an unlikely new friend, Assata is able to find the courage she seeks to overcome the impossible. The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that help Assata's courage shine through.
All Assata wants to do is become a Dora Milaje warrior of Wakanda like her grandmother and cousin, however, because of an incurable disease that not even the greatest of minds in Wakanda can cure, Assata believes that her dream of becoming a warrior is impossible. Through the help of an unlikely new friend, Assata is able to find the courage she seeks to overcome the impossible. The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that help Assata's courage shine through.
December 14, 2022
It will help if youngsters are already familiar with the Black Panther universe. I'm not a big follower of superheroes, so I found myself confused at the specifics of this story. However, the uplifting story of a girl who uses a wheelchair achieving her greatest dreams will be understood by all readers.
December 22, 2022
Illustrations are whimsical and the storyline is solid but it was too short. I get it that Assata’s mind is the sharpest weapon she has but I would’ve liked to seen how she was specifically incorporated into the Dora Milaje since the last thing written in that she was training with Okoye. This is just my opinion, but I just needed a little more closure.
January 9, 2023
Average children's book with great art by Smith who also did the art for The 1619 Project: Born on the Water. To insinuate that Okoye is a greater warrior than T'challa is laughable to anyone who has read a decent about of stories in Black Panther lore though.
Want to read
February 2, 2023This book can be used to engage students due to the Marvel property and Black Panther. The students will learn about empowering women and roles that women can take in society, as well as making it a more uplifting message on what can be accomplished.
February 8, 2023
Beautiful illustrations, and story, telling our children to not give up on their dreams, no matter what keep pushing, and to find another way to reach their dream.
February 19, 2023
Beautiful story about following your dreams set in the world of Wakanda. Very sweet message and lovely art.
February 27, 2023
I saw the movie advertised and was curious about the story.
March 20, 2023
borrow
May 15, 2023
The dialog felt a little heavy handed.
June 25, 2023
Super cute story about a disabled Wakandan girl. I definitely need to read more picture books about disabled kids and stories about wheelchair users in general.
Read
August 1, 2023a very poignant encouragement to dream
August 8, 2023
Beautifully written. It was very encouraging.
March 17, 2024
so good. im a huge fan of black panther and its such an amzing story
March 2, 2025
A sweet story about a girl from Wakanda who is a wheelchair user and how she overcomes her fears to live her dreams
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews