NPR Interview

NPR's Miles Parks talks with author Kevin Johnson and illustrator Kitt Thomas about their new picture book, "Cape."

CAPE ★ Starred Review

"Johnson’s terse prose brims with emotion... A resonant child’s-eye view of grief—and hope."

CAPE ★ Starred Review

"Johnson ­sensitively portrays a young child­ grappling with grief... Despite the small number of words, the boy’s big emotions are clear. Thomas’s digital illustrations provide beautiful support to the story."

CAPE ★ Starred Review

"The boy’s narration is simple, weighted with an aching loss that turns each delicate phrase into a profound moment of grief..."

CAPE - NYPL Best of 2023

A young Black child draws strength from their beloved superhero cape after the death of a loved one. Evocative and immersive illustrations and gentle text convey the experience of grief from a child's perspective.

CAPE Review

"In a weighty picture book debut that considers a child’s experience of grief, Johnson follows a Black child narrator who uses a red cape to navigate the emotions associated with losing a loved one..."

CAPE Review

"The sentences are brief, aptly demonstrating the difficulty of communicating the process of grieving... The full color artwork equally imparts emotional gravitas through dramatic scenes."

CAPE - A Kids' Indie Next Selection

“An incredibly beautiful and moving book for kids and their grown-ups about grief, and how to hold onto someone we love after they have died. I’ll have this on our shelf forever.”

CAPE - A Common Sense Selection

"Heartrending, important story about love and loss."