APRIL 2019 - AudioFile
Author Grace Byers’s graceful narration conveys the message of living life to its fullest, with confidence and resilience. Her poem for children is composed of similes such as “Like a tree, I am here to grow” and draws comparisons between the beauty, majesty, and purpose in nature and in ourselves. Inspiring courage and intentional living, Byers relishes the lyricism of language, and her light tone and crisp articulation emphasize the onomatopoeic effects of some of her words. This program may only be three minutes long, but it’s powerful. Byers’s performance and wise words encouraging respect for oneself and the world make for an inspirational listen for adults and children alike. M.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"An ode to self-confidence and kindness from actor and activist Grace Byers, this picture book depicts girls of diverse body shapes and skin tones." — Publishers Weekly
“A simple but powerful poem. Needs to be read by everyone.” — Booklist
“A feel-good book about self-acceptance.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A gentle and worthy message.” — School Library Journal
Booklist
A simple but powerful poem. Needs to be read by everyone.”
Booklist
A simple but powerful poem. Needs to be read by everyone.”
School Library Journal
01/01/2018
Gr 1–4—Actress Byers has penned a picture-book affirmation for girls who may be doubting their self-worth. Byers, who self-indentifies as multiracial and a CODA (child of deaf adults), experienced bullying as a child. The rhyming text begins with a series of first-person statements about purpose, many in the form of similes. Some of these translate well to a young human, e.g., "Like the tree, I'm here to grow," while others are rather less successful (and logical): "Like the rain, I'm here to pour and drip and fall until I'm full." The latter part of the book suggests that readers should love and support each other despite differences, both physical and otherwise. This is a gentle and worthy message, but may not be concrete enough to empower bullied students or to prompt a change in those who bully. It could be used to give struggling young girls a script for positive self-talk, or the adults who care for them an opening to discuss dignity and kindness. A plurality of ethnicities and body types are represented, generally at a distance and against plain white backgrounds enhanced with digital chalk sketches. VERDICT Teachers and librarians who tend to the self-esteem of young girls may wish to consider this title to introduce concepts and spark discussion.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library
APRIL 2019 - AudioFile
Author Grace Byers’s graceful narration conveys the message of living life to its fullest, with confidence and resilience. Her poem for children is composed of similes such as “Like a tree, I am here to grow” and draws comparisons between the beauty, majesty, and purpose in nature and in ourselves. Inspiring courage and intentional living, Byers relishes the lyricism of language, and her light tone and crisp articulation emphasize the onomatopoeic effects of some of her words. This program may only be three minutes long, but it’s powerful. Byers’s performance and wise words encouraging respect for oneself and the world make for an inspirational listen for adults and children alike. M.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Review
2017-12-03
A feel-good book about self-acceptance.Empire star Byers and Bobo offer a beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book detailing what one brown-skinned little girl with an impressive Afro appreciates about herself. Relying on similes, the text establishes a pattern with the opening sentence, "Like the sun, I'm here to shine," and follows it through most of the book. Some of them work well, while others fall flat: "Like the rain, I'm here to pour / and drip and fall until I'm full." In some vignettes she's by herself; and in others, pictured along with children of other races. While the book's pro-diversity message comes through, the didactic and even prideful expressions of self-acceptance make the book exasperatingly preachy—a common pitfall for books by celebrity authors. In contrast, Bobo's illustrations are visually stunning. After painting the children and the objects with which they interact, such as flowers, books, and a red wagon, in acrylic on board for a traditional look, she scanned the images into Adobe Photoshop and added the backgrounds digitally in chalk. This lends a whimsical feel to such details as a rainbow, a window, wind, and rain—all reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Bobo creates an inclusive world of girls in which wearing glasses, using a wheelchair, wearing a head scarf, and having a big Afro are unconditionally accepted rather than markers for othering.A pro-girl book with illustrations that far outshine the text. (Picture book. 3-7)
