Cape

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.

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Published: 06/20/2023
Pages: 40
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 10.34h x 10.40w x 0.43d
ISBN: 9781250840509
Age: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 04/01/2023 pg. 121
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2023
Publishers Weekly 05/01/2023
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2023 - Book Of Special Distinction
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2023 pg. 93

About the Author

Kevin Johnson is the author of Cape. The adopted son of two loving educators, Kevin fell in love with storytelling at an early age. He studied screenwriting and filmmaking, receiving a Bachelors of Arts from Temple University. Kevin is a lover of movies, comic books, music, and gadgets. While his birthplace, Philadelphia, will always remain home, Kevin loves to travel and find inspiration for his next tale.

Kitt Thomas, also known as Katelan, is a first-generation Saint Lucian American author-illustrator and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Kitt's mission is to celebrate Black culture with their drawings and encourage inclusion. They have worked with companies such as Netflix, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network. Their first picture book, Stacey's Extraordinary Words, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and a nominee for the NAACP Image Award.