Be Who You Are

September 19, 2016
“Be who you are,” begins Parr, in an emphatic call to embrace one’s individuality. “Be old. Be young. Be a different color.” (Given that this is a Parr book, it goes without saying that those colors could be purple, pink, or green.) Working in his customary boldly outlined, vibrantly colored drawing style, Parr balances bold proclamations with playful humor. “Learn in your own way,” he writes as a cat looks at a bowl of dog food, clearly intrigued; humans are encouraged to broaden their tastes, too, as Parr lines up a row of food trucks for a spread that reads “Try new things.” Subtle visual moments should speak to the readers who need them (a boy wears a feather boa, a mouse stands up to a cat with a firm “no!”), but there’s nothing quiet about Parr’s overall point, which roars across several pages in capital letters: “Just be who you are!” Ages 3–6.

November 1, 2016
A call to celebrate unique characteristics and individuality."Be who you are" is essentially the message behind every Parr book, subtle or not. His latest doesn't pull any punches; it splashes self-acceptance across every page. "Be old. Be young. / Be a different color." (Not that one ever has to remind Parr's readers of that!) "Be silly" is paired with the obligatory shot of underwear on one's head, while "Be brave" shows a tiny fish face to face with a shark (the shark just might be the bravest of all). A more-contemplative scene shows a cat peering curiously at a dog's food bowl, with the guidance: "Learn in your own way." (A few pages later two turquoise pigeons peer at a hot dog; a nifty literary nod.) A note to readers tells of Parr's fourth-grade penchant for clip-on ties and purple sunglasses. To children everywhere, as well as to the child within himself, Parr declares: "Wear everything you need to be you." Accompanying this invitation are six smiling figures, one a child with close-cropped hair, trousers, and a pink boa and another with an enormous Afro. Parr's trademark bright colors and wild fashion abound, but the one thing that unifies all? A single line, curved into a smile. A simple spin on Parr's It's Okay to Be Different (2001) but still worth shouting from the rooftops. (Picture book. 3-5)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-The title of this book says it all. The message, repeated in large, colorful letters across brightly colored backgrounds with lots of simple, cartoonish illustrations, is one for every child to hear. The sentence, "Be proud of where you're from" is illustrated with six different abodes: a thatched-roof hut, a trailer, a doghouse, a single home, an apartment house, and a Middle Eastern-style building. "Be your own family" is illustrated with a spaceship filled with individuals of different colors, genders, and species (there is a dog included), all with alien horns. A simple message is repeated with new examples on each spread. Parr's illustrations have a touch of Keith Haring and a smidge of "POW!" (as seen in pop art), which are very effective for getting readers' attention. Combine this offering with Kerascoet's Paul and Antoinette as a starting point for a lively conversation about individuality, diversity, and acceptance. Extend the discussion to include more focus on individuals with disabilities by adding Kathy Hoopmann's All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome. VERDICT A first choice for all collections. There cannot be too many options that encourage this sentiment in children.-Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.