The Soot: How Chisom Battles the Dark Clouds Over Her City

By Ayo Oyeku

Book Overview

When the sky turns black with soot, one curious child discovers how to heal our planet

Start your child's day with a journey of wonder, empathy, and hope in The Soot, a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book perfect for kids ages 4-6, best books for 4 year olds, and families searching for award winning children's books.

In a modern city where mornings begin pink and bright, a young Black girl wakes to her favorite teddy bear and magical unicorn--symbols of joy and innocence. But when thick, dark soot suddenly rolls over the skyline, her world changes in an instant, turning cheerful streets into shadowy gray. With her loving mother by her side, she seeks answers and comfort, her story capturing the hearts of readers looking for books for black girls, black girl books, and African American books for kids.

The Soot uses bold colors, expressive faces, and powerful visual metaphors--like the soot monster and the crying Earth--to introduce air pollution and environmental awareness in a way that's accessible for young children. This book is a must-have for parents and teachers seeking eco-friendly stories, tree planting books, and books about environmental issues for children.

If your family loves Journey by Aaron Becker, Extra Yarn, The Book with No Pictures, or classics by David Wiesner and Sandra Boynton, you'll find The Soot a perfect addition to your collection of best wordless picture books and award winning children's books.

Ideal for classroom read alouds, popup books for kids 3-5, and as a thoughtful gift for kids books ages 4-6, this story empowers children to build empathy, take action, and believe that small acts--like planting a tree--can make a big difference

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1957810297
• ISBN13: 9781957810294
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Iskanchi Press
• Length: 24 Pages
• Age Range: 5 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

We can do things to clean the air

A good visual lesson about air quality, what destroys it, and how everyone can help counteract the pollution if only we try. "A Story of Courage, Clean Air, and Caring for Our World" The illustrations by the author are relatable, colorful, and reinforce the lesson. Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library! Pub Date Aug 11, 2025 I requested and received a temporary uncorrected galley proof from Iskanchi Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley. ***** #review #goodreads #storygraph #NetGalley @librarythingofficial @bookbub #TheSoot written and illustrated by @ayo_oyeku #IskanchiPress @ibpalovesindies #NetGalley #EcoKids #KidsBooks #kidlit #cleanair #picturebooks #childrensbookillustration @childrensbookcouncil