Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day

by Jazmyn Simon, Dulé Hill, Shamar Knight-Justice (Illustrator)

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From parents and actors Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill comes a picture book filled with beautiful, inspiring affirmations reminding kiddos of their infinite wonder. Perfect for children of any age!

I am worthy. I am loved. I am enough.
Every child, no matter their age, needs to know how loved they are and, more importantly, should love themselves. In this gorgeously illustrated book of affirmations, young readers are told how cherished, deserving, and gifted they are.

In their tender picture book, actors Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill tell children about the magic of self-love and standing firm, regardless of outside voices and doubt. Children will feel their confidence grow as they repeat the encouraging words on the page, take in the warm illustrations, and learn to believe in themselves!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593426975
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	63,952
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill are partners on and off the screen. After working together on several projects—such as HBO’s Ballers, Peacock’s Psych movie franchise, and Dulé’s current show, ABC’s The Wonder Years—it was only natural this married couple would coauthor a children’s book. Repeat After Me is aimed at inspiring the next generation of future leaders to see the very best in themselves. Parents to two amazing children, Jazmyn and Dulé have made affirmations a daily practice in their family. They reside in Los Angeles. This is Dulé’s first book and Jazmyn’s second.

Shamar Knight-Justice is an illustrator and educator based in Atlanta. He is most content eating pancakes, seeing kids explore their imaginations, and going on long walks with his wife and dog. He is also the illustrator of Ari J.'s Kinky, Curly Crown. Visit him online at www.shamarknightjustice.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/24/2023

Actors and married collaborators Hill and Simon share their take on fostering self-love in children via powerful affirmations. An introductory authors’ note suggests that “when you say affirmations... you are actually rewiring your brain to believe what you say,” and instructs caregivers on how to create a meaningful ritual by “having your child repeat the affirmation back to you, out loud, in first person.” What follows is a series of “I am” statements (“I am BRAVE,” “I am IMPORTANT,” “I am LOVED,” and others), each of which is followed by brief rhyming verse that expands on the theme: “I am CHERISHED/ Just as the dawn of each day/ is wondrous and new,/ the most valuable treasure/ you have is you.” Knight-Justice’s digital artwork depicts kids with brown skin of varying tones exuding confidence and joy as they act out the accompanying text, modeling big concepts wrapped in an attainable, welcome family practice. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"The verse is warm and encouraging, reminding little ones of their worth. Depicting scenes ranging from birthday parties to playgrounds to fields of flowers, Knight-Justice’s digital illustrations have a collagelike look, incorporating written text and bits of sheet music; they have a DIY feel that may inspire kids to create their own art—a nice reflection of the book’s theme of empowerment. Will help instill much-needed feelings of self-worth in little ones." —Kirkus Reviews

"A treasure trove of positive affirmations for young readers....An inspiring and heartening title that will find a home in any collection." —School Library Journal

“Knight-Justice’s digital artwork depicts kids with brown skin of varying tones exuding confidence and joy as they act out the accompanying text, modeling big concepts wrapped in an attainable, welcome family practice.”  —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

04/01/2023

PreS-Gr 3—The husband-and-wife authors present a treasure trove of positive affirmations for young readers. Each endlessly encouraging spread features an uplifting, "I am" phrase in large, colorful letters, followed by a comforting rhyming couplet presumably spoken by a caregiver. For example, one spread depicts a young Black child as an astronaut in outer space, with a statement that reads, "I am IMPORTANT," followed by, "You're here for a purpose. Your life has great meaning. Believe in yourself, and never stop dreaming." The book's empowering conclusion invites listeners to repeat the statements from the story and reminds them that they are all of those things "and so much more." Knight-Justice's warm digital illustrations portray Black children in a variety of settings, including on the playground, the school cafeteria, relaxing by the pool, playing with loved ones, and celebrating a birthday, to name a few. An end note details the writers' history of using affirmations with their children as well as hope and advice for readers to practice them in their daily lives as well. Put with Peter H. Reynolds's Be You! and Alissa Holder's I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything! for a lesson brimming with upbeat and encouraging themes. VERDICT An inspiring and heartening title that will find a home in any collection.—Olivia Gorecke

School Library Journal

2023-02-08
Actors, married couple, and parents Simon and Hill offer affirmations that center Black and brown children.

The book begins with a note explaining that the authors wrote this book “to help our children see themselves as they truly are: spectacular.” Each spread contains a declaration and a short poem along with vibrant and imaginative artwork. “I am WORTHY”—an adult gently tosses a smiling child into the air. “I am DESERVING”—another child reclines by the pool, a bowl of ice cream on their lap and a glass of lemonade on the table beside them. “I am BRAVE”—a child invites a solitary classmate to sit with them and their friends. “I am STRONG”—a child plays on a jungle gym. Simon and Hill advise parents to have their children repeat these statements back to them to foster self-love. The verse is warm and encouraging, reminding little ones of their worth. Depicting scenes ranging from birthday parties to playgrounds to fields of flowers, Knight-Justice’s digital illustrations have a collagelike look, incorporating written text and bits of sheet music; they have a DIY feel that may inspire kids to create their own art—a nice reflection of the book’s theme of empowerment. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Will help instill much-needed feelings of self-worth in little ones. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews