What Makes Me a Me?

The sparkly cover of this picture book and its jaunty, clever rhymes will be enjoyed by both parent and child, not just for the content but for the often small things that adults will understand rather better than their offspring.  For instance, when the little boy is comparing himself to many other things, like a snail, or a dog, or a tree and deciding he only shares some aspects of these things, he tells us, ‘My dad says I’m like Alfie Wilks, the boy who lives next door.  Together we play dinosaurs that stomp and chomp and roar! But mum will often tell me, and she’ll look me in the eye.  “You’re NOT to be like Alfie Wilks.” I really don’t know why.’  The little boy finally comes to the conclusion that we knew he would all along: he is himself, unique and different and special and that’s the way it should be.  The text is integrated to a high degree and accompanies the jolly pictures with great panache; lettering large or small, curvy or straight reflects the mood of the moment.  Jolly fun!