Those image links have solved it! It was buried down a ways, but one of the Pinterest children's book art images rang a bell which led to the illustrator, Christopher Denise, which led to the book itself:

"If I Could" by Susan Milord (Illus. Christopher Denise)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3273027-if-i-could

I can't tell you how grateful I am--thank you!