My Self, Your Self

by Esmé Shapiro

Overview

Follow along with lovable forest creatures as they discover what a self is and what makes each of us unique.

Your self is the only self you have, and my self is not your self . . . but what is a self? Whatever it is, it’s what makes you you!

From the way you button your coat to the way you tap your toes, from the top of your head to your adorable tummy, there are so many reasons to love your self, and so many reasons to be loved. Join a group of endearing forest creatures as they bake and eat cranberry-butter-pie muffins, sing silly songs at bathtime and stop to smell the chestnut-nettle roses, all the while exploring their individuality. This joyously affirming picture book from the inimitable Esmé Shapiro encourages the youngest readers to get to know and love and be kind to their wonderful selves and the equally wonderful selves around them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774880234
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.63(w) x 10.81(h) x 0.44(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

ESMÉ SHAPIRO grew up in Laurel Canyon, California and Ontario, Canada, and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Her previous picture books include Ooko, which was nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award in 2016, Alma and the Beast, the recipient of two starred reviews, among other honors, and Carol and the Pickle-Toad, which has been widely praised. Esmé also illustrated Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear, Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara and, most recently, A Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti. She has exhibited at the Society of Illustrators, and her work has been featured in Taproot and Plansponsor magazines. Esmé lives in the Hudson Valley with her partner and their two dogs.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/31/2022

Shapiro envelops big ideas within this whimsically affirming exploration of individuality and selfhood. An anthropomorphic creature in brown boots and a “very special sprout hat” invokes the tone of a beloved elder, stating, “I have been with my self for a very long time.” As the protagonist encounters various forest beings, including a mushroom and a snail, it ponders “What is a self?” and asks if it’s “What we put on our toast? The way we button our coats?” The sprout then vocalizes appreciations about its pals ( “I like the way you bake cranberry-butter-pie muffins... and the way you always make enough to share”) before outlining what it likes about itself. The easy, conversational rhythm offers lots of opportunities for sharing, and the pen, watercolor, and digital art features intricately etched black-and-white backgrounds, with blips of red and earth-toned color throughout. A welcome, wandering contemplation of a book about being “OURSELVES together.” Ages 3–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"[E]ach question and simple sentence is there to encourage dialogue and self-discovery from young readers. . . . A sublime joy." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"Shapiro envelops big ideas within this whimsically affirming exploration of individuality and selfhood. . . . A welcome, wandering contemplation of a book about being 'OURSELVES together.'" —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

"Celebrate and ponder the joy and power of knowing one’s self in this contemplative and encouraging tale. . . . [C]aregivers and readers will find ample discussion opportunities on subjects such as self-discovery and thoughtfulness. The conclusion celebrates the differences found among friends, and serves as an invitation to know and honor one’s self. Shapiro’s rich, mixed-media illustrations feature a muted palette and abound with details that will enthrall readers from start to finish." —School Library Journal

"[A] warm fuzzy book perfect for sharing with someone small who needs a bit of affirmation. . . . Choose My Self, Your Self for a cozy one-on-one reading session at home or in a kindergarten classroom." —CM Reviews

“Every word of the text and each picture reflects E.M. Forster’s adage to 'only connect,' but translated for children.” —Imaginary Elevators

"A delightfully strange story about how to appreciate myself, yourself and ourselves together." —Quebec Library Association

From the Publisher

09/30/2022

PreS-Gr 3—Celebrate and ponder the joy and power of knowing one's self in this contemplative and encouraging tale. Readers are introduced to a small, sprite-like creature as they wander through a blooming landscape. As the being treks through nature and chats with woodland neighbors and friends, they reflect on themselves and what "self" exactly means. It is different, for instance, from "YOUR self," but is it inside or outside? Could it be how we feel, or make others feel? While the narrative progresses, caregivers and readers will find ample discussion opportunities on subjects such as self-discovery and thoughtfulness. The conclusion celebrates the differences found among friends, and serves as an invitation to know and honor one's self. Shapiro's rich, mixed-media illustrations feature a muted palette and abound with details that will enthrall readers from start to finish. Pair with Juliana Perdomo's Sometimes, All I Need is Me for a duo of grand titles on the topics of mindfulness and self-awareness. VERDICT Highly recommended for purchase in all collections.—Olivia Gorecke

School Library Journal

★ 2022-09-14
Explore the magic of knowing yourself.

A small fey creature, perhaps a sprite or a pixie, in a lush landscape of flowers and greenery guides readers through a simple but profound examination of their self and their interactions with others. Emerging from their acorn-shaped home, the creature, which vaguely resembles a radish (in boots), goes about their interactions with other characters inspired by nature, such as a walking, mushroomlike friend and a tall, flowerlike chef. As they interact, thoughtful narration guides their day: “I have been / with my self / for a very long time. // MY self is not / YOUR self. / What is a self? / Is it INSIDE of us? / or OUTSIDE of us?” Each question accompanies a vignette of small acts, from buttoning up a coat to making a sandwich, but caregivers and educators will know that it’s more than that; each question and simple sentence is there to encourage dialogue and self-discovery from young readers. As the narration continues, readers learn what small things the creature likes about themself and their companions. The story is a study in self-awareness, one made stronger by the gorgeously detailed mixed-media illustrations and hand-lettered phrases that hark back to the aesthetics of the late 1960s and early 1970s. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sublime joy. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews