Be You!

by Peter H. Reynolds, Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times Bestseller!Creative visionary of The Word Collector, Happy Dreamer, and The Dot, #1 New York Times bestseller Peter H. Reynolds creates a joyful celebration of individuality—and staying true to Y-O-U!

An Amazon Best Book of 2020!

Be curious...

Be adventurous...

Be brave...

BE YOU!

Discover a joyful reminder of the ways that every child is unique and special, from the beloved creator of The Dot, Happy Dreamer, and New York Times bestseller, The Word Collector. Here, Reynolds reminds readers to "be your own work of art." To be patient, persistent, and true. Because there is one, and only one, YOU.

In the tradition of books like Oh, the Places You'll Go! and I Wish You More comes a wholly original, inspirational celebration of individuality as only Peter H. Reynolds can create!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338572315
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	30,361
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

PETER H. REYNOLDS is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of many books for children, including Happy Dreamer, The Word Collector, Say Something!, Be You!, and Our Table. He is also the illustrator of When Thing Aren't Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni. His books have been translated into over 25 languages around the globe and are celebrated worldwide. In 1996, he founded FableVision with his brother, Paul, as a social change agency to help create "stories that matter, stories that move." He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts, with his family.

Editorial Reviews

01/06/2020

Reynolds (Say Something!) is back in full affirmation mode, exhorting readers to be themselves and breaking down what that means into a series of refrain-like “Be” statements (“Be curious,” “Be okay being alone”). Each gets a spread: on the left is a bright, poster-like vignette showing a child who embodies the desired character trait, while the right page offers a brief exegesis. “Be connected,” for example, shows two kids smiling broadly while riding on a tandem bike as the text explains, “Find kindred spirits./ Be with those who make you feel/ like the real you.” The statements pile up; taken together, readers may start feeling like all this encouragement blends into one tall order. Only one breaks with the format (“Be persistent” sits on a striking spread of a child intently but successfully sailing through a thunderstorm), and only one acknowledges that life can be truly overwhelming (“Be okay with reaching out for help” finds a flailing child being handed a life preserver). But any reader feeling the pressure to conform to expectations may find great comfort in knowing this book is on a nearby shelf, at the ready to offer up good counsel. Ages 4–8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Be You!:"An inspirational picture book offers life advice for readers who want to be themselves... this book is a gorgeous guidebook for those seeking encouragement while encountering life's challenges... What is remarkable about the book is that even though the instructions and the brief sentences explaining them are at times vague, the illustrations expand on them in ways readers will find endearing and uplifting... Both beautiful and inspiring as graduation gift or guide to life." — Kirkus Reviews"Reynolds (Say Something!) is back in full affirmation mode, exhorting readers to be themselves... any reader feeling the pressure to conform to expectations may find great comfort in knowing this book is on a nearby shelf, at the ready to offer up good counsel." —Publishers WeeklyPraise for Say Something!:

"A motivational must-have for every collection." — School Library Journal

"In this new effort, Reynolds shows readers a variety of ways a voice can be used, listened to, and heard to make a difference... Reynolds' hand-lettered text, set in white text bubbles against a mix of bright backdrop colors and patterns, deftly works with before-and-after illustrations to show the change that children can effect. This book's encouragement to kids to find their voices can also be used to start a conversation about how they can make a difference in their world." — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Word Collector:

"Peter H. Reynolds always manages to walk a delicate line with his books - make that a couple lines: weighty but not weighed down. Universal yet kid-centric. No easy feat." — Travis Jonker, School Library Journal

"Capture[s] the beauty of words and the wonder of sharing them with others... enchanting." - Kirkus Reviews

"Packs a powerful punch... capture[s] both the joy of learning and the power of kindness." - School Library Journal

Praise for Happy Dreamer:

"The message of acceptance and patience comes through clearly, and the exhortation to 'carve your own path' and 'show the world who you are' will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt misunderstood." - Booklist

"Celebrates individuality, self-expression, and the joys of being a dreamer... a liberating validation of dreaming as restorative, comforting, and powerful, while giving kids full license to be themselves." - Publishers Weekly

"A sweet gift to praise spirited individuality, this choice encourages readers to dream big. Let those sparkles fly!" - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Ish:

* "Ish... encourages readers to see the world anew." - School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for The Dot:

* "Simplicity itself, like the dot in the title, this small book carries a big message." - Booklist, starred review

* "In this engaging, inspiring tale, Reynolds (illustrator of the Judy Moody series) demonstrates the power of a little encouragement... Reynolds pulls off exactly what his young heroine does, creating an impressive work from deceptively simple beginnings." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "With art that seems perfectly suited to the mood and the message of the text, Reynolds inspires with a gentle and generous mantra: 'Just make a mark.'" -School Library Journal, starred review

"It may speak to formerly artistic young readers who are selling their own abilities short." - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

04/01/2020

PreS-Gr 1—An exhortation to "be you." Life, the opening implies, is full of possibilities, and with each turn of the page, the narrator passes along a wish in the voice of a parent. Short exclamations like "Be curious," "Be different," and "Be your own thinker" proudly sit above illustrations of children drawn in Reynolds's charming style. These exclamations are expanded upon by wise words. Even on the facing pages, the text is kept brief. As befits the identity theme, the youths come from different ethnic and racial backgrounds and they participate in whatever activity suits them. VERDICT From the rainbow hues to its heartfelt messages, this title beams positivity. Share this one with those who adore Nancy Tillman's odes.—Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.

School Library Journal

2019-11-24
An inspirational picture book offers life advice for readers who want to be themselves.

Replete with sparkling, often quirky illustrations of children living their best lives, this book is a gorgeous guidebook for those seeking encouragement while encountering life's challenges. The children featured—a racially diverse group ranging from infants to preschoolers—cheerfully navigate the various injunctions that flow through the text: "Be curious.…Be adventurous.…Be persistent.…Be kind." What is remarkable about the book is that even though the instructions and the brief sentences explaining them are at times vague, the illustrations expand on them in ways readers will find endearing and uplifting. Those depicting painful or challenging moments are especially effective. The "Be persistent" double-page spread shows a child in a boat on stormy seas; it's rich with deep blues as it emphasizes the energy of wind and rain and struggle in the face of challenge. Together with the accompanying repeated phrase "Keep going, never stop. Keep going, never stop. Keep going, never stop," this spread arrests readers. By contrast, the "Be kind. Be understanding" spread simply presents two children's faces, one cast in blue and the other in gold, but the empathy that Reynolds conveys is similarly captivating. While there is no plot to pull readers through the pages, the book provides rich fodder for caregivers to use as teachable moments, both informally and in classroom settings.

Both beautiful and inspiring as graduation gift or guide to life. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

In a gentle, friendly tone, author/narrator Peter Reynolds reaches out to listeners with words of encouragement and positivity in this guidebook of advice for young children. Without plot or characters, short declarations like “Be curious” and “Be kind” are followed up with brief, heartfelt explanations for listeners seeking to be themselves amid life’s challenges. Original music matching the style of each exhortation differentiates the sections, heightening the inspirational effect and adding to the exuberance. A version with page chimes is included for reading along with the illustrated text, but illustrations, while they expand on the ideas, are not necessary to enjoy the uplifting message of this audiobook. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

MAY 2020 - AudioFile

In a gentle, friendly tone, author/narrator Peter Reynolds reaches out to listeners with words of encouragement and positivity in this guidebook of advice for young children. Without plot or characters, short declarations like “Be curious” and “Be kind” are followed up with brief, heartfelt explanations for listeners seeking to be themselves amid life’s challenges. Original music matching the style of each exhortation differentiates the sections, heightening the inspirational effect and adding to the exuberance. A version with page chimes is included for reading along with the illustrated text, but illustrations, while they expand on the ideas, are not necessary to enjoy the uplifting message of this audiobook. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

MAY 2020 - AudioFile