Rex and the Band

From African American children's book author Gwen Fortune-Blakely comes an inspiring tale of a young boy's passion for music, making responsible choices, and how helping others helped him realize one of his goals.

From African American children's book author Gwen Fortune-Blakely, comes an inspiring tale of a young boy's passion for music, making responsible choices, and how helping others helped him realize one of his goals. Rex and the Band explores a day in the life of Rex, a spirited young Black boy who dreams of one day playing in a high-energy marching band like the ones he enjoys watching with his dad during Historically Black College and University (HBCU) football games. When the local high school band director invites Rex and his dad to see their new halftime show, Rex finds himself needing to complete several chores before he can go. Along the way, he needs to make several major decisions as he tries to stay focused and avoid distractions in his community. Will Rex successfully complete his chores and get to see the halftime show? Rex and the Band is an entertaining story that teaches kids about making responsible choices while having fun. This beautifully illustrated children's book features relatable Black characters and culturally authentic references to HBCUs and HBCU bands. Join Rex on his journey and enjoy the stories of his strong relationships with his dad, his mom, and his community. It's a wonderful children's book for Black boys that delivers a timeless message about responsible decision-making in a fun way.

Gwen Fortune-Blakely is a new author focused on books that feature compelling Black characters. She is launching Cocoa Kids Books, Inc., a new independent publishing company for children's books with exciting Black characters who capture the imagination. As a mom, she realized there were few books that focused on Black characters beyond the African American stories of struggle, strife, and discrimination. It was a treasure hunt finding a broader range of culturally authentic and relatable Black characters. With the completion of her first picture book, "Rex and the Band", Gwen is writing positive, uplifting stories that inspire Black children to imagine, dream and aspire to fulfill their potential. Her books are what she dreamt she had growing up and create characters for a new generation of childhood heroes and role models.