I Can Be... Me!

February 1, 2023
An exuberant invitation for children to express themselves, however they choose. Kids of different skin tones, hair textures, and outfits frolic through a candy-colored world as rhyming couplets extol self-determination: "I can be everything I want to be. / I can be all of magnificent me!" Though gender isn't explicitly mentioned, many affirmations challenge dominant cultural gender norms around activities and feelings. In one scene, all the children wear pink tutus. In another, the narrator states that they can "ask for a hug / when I'm trembling with fright." An illustrator's note at the beginning of the book asks readers not to make "assumptions about who any of these kids are. They are who they are, and they are everything they want to be." The characters play with race cars, sing lullabies to dolls, and pummel pillows to vent frustration. With no characters gendered in the text, the conversation about "who any of these kids are" is left as a more open-ended question. In the end, the kids conclude, "I am splendiferous... / and so are YOU!" The simplicity of the book's upbeat couplets, paired with illustrator Gonzalez's whimsical art, will appeal to some. However, the characters' doll-like faces vary little in their countenance, dampening the message around fully experiencing emotions and the overall atmosphere of the story. In a growing field of picture books about self-expression, this one doesn't stand out. (This book was reviewed digitally.) "Splendiferous" may be an overstatement, but this book on being yourself is suitable for youngsters. (Picture book. 3-6)

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July 17, 2023
“I can be everything I want to be./ I can be all of magnificent me!” Leading on from the titular phrase, chipper couplets promote empowerment through dress-up and play in this inclusive excursion. Newman’s energetic first-person verse emphasizes self-acceptance as the speaker describes embracing a wide range of activities (basketball and ballet), fashions (blue jeans and nail polish), and feelings (anger and sadness). Employing clean lines and rainbow colors, Gonzalez’s naïf-style colored pencil, pencil, and watercolor art portrays kids in suits and ruffles and rainbow hues. A spread of children decked out as royalty (“I can dress like a prince/ with a crown on my head// or wear a long gown/ like a princess instead”) portrays the group with varying skin
tones and hairstyles, and pinks and purples abound during an ice-skating excursion. The cumulative cheerleading effect is a powerful affirmation of self. Ages 4–7.

July 28, 2023

K-Gr 2-Children having fun without the onus of expectations is really what this book is about. Any child can aspire to anything, and their gender is not one of the conditions of the outcome. Gender is not named nor is it pivotal in the story or the illustrations in this book. This is about any child playing anywhere, anytime, and every bit of it looks like great fun! Play is the safe space where children explore and make sense of the world around them. And they do! From being space pioneers to baking a birthday cake to digging in the dirt and putting makeup on their faces. In these scenes, all the while they are learning their likes and dislikes, building confidence, and having fun just being a child. The illustrations are colorful and depict children, not boys or girls or intentionally androgynous, just kids! VERDICT This is an engaging read-aloud told in rhyme where young children can see themselves as they explore and enjoy playing with their friends. Any library wishing to focus on the importance of play will find this book useful.-Joan Kindig

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