Just Like Me
By Author / Illustrator
Louise Gooding, Melissa Iwai, Caterina Delli Carri, cathyhookey, Angel Chang
Genre
Representation & Inclusion
Age range(s)
9+
Publisher
Templar Publishing
ISBN
9781787418486
Format
Hardback
Published
11-03-2021
Synopsis
An anthology of 40 inspirational figures who are neurologically or physically diverse.
The world is full of people who are a little different. Our uniqueness makes us who we are. We are all 'different; not less'.
This is a collection of the true stories of 40 inspirational figures from around the world, all of whom are physically or neurologically diverse. Each story includes struggles and triumphs, a motivational quote and information on each condition.
Reflective of our diverse society, this book features Simone Biles, Selena Gomez, Temple Grandin, Warwick Davies, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Hawking, Greta Thunberg and many more.
Reviews
Linda
Just Like Me is a wonderfully inspiring book, which celebrates the beauty of diversity and difference. It is filled with tales of the challenges and adversity faced by successful people in all walks of life, from scientists to musicians, artists to authors and everything in between.
The beautifully illustrated pages contain a short biography of forty different neurologically and physically diverse individuals, which sit alongside an inspirational quote and a brief description of the condition or challenge faced by this person. I loved the inclusion of this explanation as it made the text much more accessible for young readers. The quotes underneath each person's name were also a wonderful addition.
The range of people included within Just Like Me was phenomenal: a real mixture of more instantly recognisable and lesser well-known individuals. I think young readers would get a lot from this book: it would both inform and inspire them, showing them the potential that lives inside each and every person, regardless of the difficulties they face.
I was particularly moved by the story of Sudha Chandran and the idea of taking inspiration from our failures. Sudha's tenacity in the face of such adversity was breath-taking. The information shared in her biography was well-written and easy to understand and the accompanying illustration really brought her to life.
This book would be a fantastic addition to any Upper Key Stage 2 classroom. It would work well to dip into, across the curriculum, to remind children of their potential and what they can achieve if they put their mind to it.
96 pages / Reviewed by Linda Canning, teacher
Suggested Reading Age 9+