YOU ARE A STORY

Understand your story and listen to others’.

An unseen narrator muses on how special everyone is through a series of connected passages that will leave readers contemplating their places in the world. Readers are reminded that they are many things: someone’s child, an animal, a body of water (mostly), and much more. The text is informative and inspirational: “You are a sponge. You are constantly soaking up new information. You are a student of the world. You learn by trying new things. You absorb everything you see, hear, taste, smell, and touch.” As the declarations continue, a diverse group of children with different skin tones, hair textures, and physical abilities explore and interact with their world and with each other. Accompanied by appealing digital illustrations that have an intimate, collagelike feel, the story is a little nonfiction (with a few facts about the solar system, water, and more sprinkled in) and a lot pep talk and will hopefully inspire young readers and caregivers alike to remember that we are all unique and that we each contain multitudes. The final message is perhaps the most profound: “You are a story. You are the author of your life. Every day is a blank page waiting for you to fill it. Make your story funny. Make it an adventure. Tell your story to others. Then listen to theirs.” That final sentence is an important reminder for readers of all ages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Bold and stirring.