IN THE MIRROR

Two siblings embrace their own self-worth in this picture book.

Two brown-skinned, curly-haired siblings start their day looking in the mirror. In first-person narration, each says: “I just love what I see….” Beginning with that positive self-image—that their reflections are beautiful—the rhyming text continues describing how each part of the face shows an aspect of the child’s character. A wrinkled, sweaty brow represents both fun and hard work. Between the kids’ ears are always-working brains; their eyes are filled with visions of future dreams; and their noses smell “my greatness.” While they experience setbacks—an embarrassing grade, a scraped chin—the children know they have powerful voices and walk with pride. Ferguson’s smooth, rhyming stanzas employ imaginative turns of phrase and use facial features to evoke more than just the common senses associated with eyes, ears, and noses. Instead, they showcase emotions, accomplishments, and creativity to excellent effect. A few words (embarrassed, defined) may help stretch the vocabularies of emerging readers. Aryutova’s cartoon illustrations are at once realistic and whimsical, deftly capturing the emotional intent of the rhymes and creating two incredibly likable protagonists. Athletics, the sciences, the visual and performing arts, and innovative play are all portrayed as virtuous parts of the lives of the protagonists, showcasing well-rounded likes and dreams sure to appeal to a wide range of readers.

From the first page to the last, this inventive, beautifully illustrated tale affirms a child’s value.