What Makes Me A Me?

I wanted to like this book, to heap praises upon its talented creators. However, it did fall short of my expectations, not so much for the illustrations which are varied and contemporary but on account of rhymes which didn't quite scan and because the answers to a profound question didn't quite hit the mark. The conclusion that 'everybody's different in their own special way. So what makes me a me is ME!' is true but, in my view, not very insightful. I love the idea that difference is something to be celebrated though and, if this book encourages children to be more accepting of themselves and others, it will have achieved something very worthwhile. It would certainly be a good starting point for a class discussion on difference. One final point: printing blue type on a black background does not make for ease of reading. Picture book / Ages 6+ / Reviewed by Jane Rew, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

What Makes Me a Me? is a beautiful picture book written by Ben Faulks (Mr Bloom - CBeebies). It is the story of one little boy trying to work out who he is. He compares himself to everything from inanimate objects like a jumper for size and shape, to a volcano for temperament. Along the way he discovers that yes he is similar to so many things, but not like them in so many other ways, because 'my jumper is a lazybones - it won't do anything unless I do it too' and so many more wonderful analogies. So simple to explain to children how unique they are and that nothing and no one is like them. David Tazzyman's illustrations are perfect all the way through and bring such a sweet innocence to the book and clearly represent how the imagination of a young mind works. I will be highly recommending this to reception teachers for their 'All About Me' topic, when the children start school next year. I have wanted to get this for a while now and am so glad to finally have a copy. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Fiona Dula-Chandu

Suggested Reading Age 3+