I was asked to do this one in a storytime as well. Honestly, I was disappointed in the actual content of the book. It had limited words and while that is usually fine with me, trying to convey an understanding of diversity with that is tough. ( )

Written in poetry format, this reflective and profound picture book is about a boy and a girl who wonder why they are who they are. Why Am I Me? nurtures a sense of connection and compassion.

Art from this book was included in the Picture the Dream exhibit at the Carle (Winter/Spring 2021)

Illustrations were made with acrylic paint, colored pencils, and collage.

Kids in a crowded subway car look at each other and wonder: "Why am I me...and not you?" They wonder, "If I were someone else, who would I be?" An entry into a big conversation. ( )

This was a hard one to rate - the artwork is amazing, but the words are meh. ( )

I really liked this book as it presented this huge question in an easy to understand way for kids through the illustrations and word choice. The illustrations in the book show a wide range of characters who vary in age, gender, race, and ethnicity. This diverse representation allows for students of various backgrounds to see themselves in the text. The word choice also presents the question "why am I me and not you?" in a kid-friendly way through the repeated questions focusing on the main message, "If I were someone else, who would I be?" The main message of the story is to embrace every person's individuality and their differences. ( )