A spare first-person text marked by powerful descriptive moments follows a young Black boy on the day of his father’s funeral. He has a new haircut, a new suit, and his cape— “in case I remember.” But he doesn’t want to remember, or listen to what’s being said around him. “Memories make my swallow hurt.” He and his auntie go to the cemetery and then back to the house and “a party where no one smiles.” The cape is to block unwanted memories—he’ll use it like a shield. But the memories are unstoppable, and when the boy eventually does remember, he recalls his dad’s laugh, his dad’s love, and the day his dad gave him the cape. “I remember the way to my smile.” The illustrations are a mix of full-page scenes and spots that make thoughtful use of white space. (Ages 4-8)

A young child learns that even superheroes hurt too in this heartrending story about loss and love, written by debut author Kevin Johnson and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Kitt Thomas.

When a child loses the person in his life that he loves more than anything, he uses his cape as protection from his grief. On the day of the funeral, he uses it to block out the pictures and stories people share, refusing to acknowledge the memories that keep bubbling up. He won't think about them. He doesn't want to.

He avoids the memories, until he no longer can.

He remembers then. Their laugh, their smile, the moment they gave him the cape. The cape transforms, becoming a source of comfort and strength as the child navigates the sadness and joy that these memories bring up.

In Cape, Kevin Johnson has crafted an achingly beautiful and honest story about processing and redefining grief after the loss of a loved one. With evocative illustrations by New York Times bestselling artist Kitt Thomas (Stacey’s Extraordinary Words), Cape is a powerful, unforgettable, and necessary story.