COOL TO BE YOU

In Landgraf’s picture book, an anthropomorphic pea visits a school and wins friends in a rhyming tale of believing in yourself.

One fall day, Rollie the pea and his siblings are up to their normal chaotic antics when Rollie encounters a human. Frightened, Rollie tries to hide, and warns the others to do the same. But the young boy, Jack, who has fair skin and brown hair, calls out that he only wants to be friends. In fact, Jack would like to take Rollie to school: “Show-and-tell’s coming up early next week. / My friends will all think he’s so cool and unique.” Rollie’s intrigued, but he’s worried no one will like him because he’s different. Jack, who has been bullied, convinces Rollie that a true friend likes you for who you really are. The pep talk succeeds: Rollie gives school a try and makes a big hit. The combination of the pea-people and human children is initially hard to swallow, but the illustrator, Valenti, manages it well, especially when showing that Jack’s classroom is full of all sorts of other children who don’t look the same. The bright hues and cartoon shapes give the book plenty of kid-appeal, especially when accompanied by Landgraf’s smooth, consistent rhymes. Jack’s instant empathy with anxious Rollie, and his advice, earned from hard experience, are touching.

An affecting look at positive self-worth.