Overview
Following the success of 2023's Black & Irish, Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes, author and Black & Irish co-founder Leon Diop returns with a new non-fiction picture book. Black & Irish: Awesome Icons tells the story of twelve inspirational Black Irish people, including premier league footballer Chiedozie Ogbene, record-breaking sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke, and world champion Irish dancer Elliot Kwelele. Includes a foreword by actress Ruth Negga.
Full Product Details
Author: Leon Diop ,
Grace Enemaku
Publisher: Little Island
Imprint: Little Island
ISBN: 9781915071651
ISBN 10: 1915071658
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 12 June 2025
Recommended Age: From 4 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
"Praise for Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes ""An informative tribute to Black Irish heroes past and present with hopeful messages for those yet to come."" - Kirkus Reviews ""Offers a history of black Irish people in an accessible and engaging style."" - Irish Independent ""A powerful and important book."" -Irish Independent ""One I wish I had on my own bookshelf as a kid."" - The Irish Times ""I believe everyone could benefit from reading this."" - Paper Lanterns ""These short, engaging biographies will enlighten and inspire."" - Booklist ""... perfect for someone who's enjoyed the Rebel Girls but has grown out of them ...The art is a huge part of how effective the book is ... It's a great read."" - Read and Reviewed ""I really enjoyed reading the life stories of those featured. The profiles reflect a changing Ireland and that the Black & Irish community have positively contributed to the sporting, artistic and cultural fabric of Irish life. The challenges facing any minority are evident and the aspiration of being part of, is well described."" - Goodreads Review ""I ate this up ... This is perfect for young readers 12+ and teens as it highlights many different areas: activism, hair care, science, influencing, education, media and sports. Plus, the tiny colourful information /index areas are beneficial so you can stay connected to the text without having to google words that may be unknown."" - ***** NetGalley Reader Review"
Author Information
Leon Diop is a mixed race man from Tallaght, Dublin. Born to an Irish mother and a Senegalese father. He is the founder of Black and Irish, an organisation striving to transform Ireland into a global leader in equality and inclusion. He is a host of the Black and Irish podcast with RTE. His first book Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes, won Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards. Grace Enemaku is an award-winning, Nigerian-Irish multidisciplinary designer & illustrator who creates branding and illustration for the unconventional. Her work is filled with bright colours, playful motifs and features a diverse array of characters. She co-founded DesignOpp, an IDI initiative to champion diversity for people of colour in the Irish design and creative industry.
