THE ONE AND ONLY ME!

Tave shares an inspiring day in the life of a young girl in this illustrated book for children.

An unnamed young girl with dark skin and curly hair tells the story of a typical day in which she honors everything good about herself while acknowledging times when she “might feel afraid” and need some help sorting things out. Tave’s protagonist appreciates being healthy and having a “brilliant smile” that brings joy. She is “friendly and kind” and has “gifts and special talents” like drawing and dancing. But not every day is perfect: There are times when she feels down, but she tries not to stay that way for long. The author addresses the issue of other children saying mean things and recognizes that ignoring them doesn’t always work; the young girl sometimes needs a trusted adult with whom she can share her feelings. At the end of her day, she returns to the mirror and reflects, “no matter what the day has brought…I’m still the One and Only Me!” Tave’s story is uplifting and provides children with a strong message of positivity while reassuring them that they don’t have to be perfect. The author affirms that children have a lot of inner strength upon which they can draw, but they still may have struggles with fears and stressors. Tave also imparts some wisdom about not being unduly influenced by what is around oneself (or what is on TV). Vign’s bright, colorful illustrations support the text beautifully. The characters are depicted as multicultural and differently abled (some wear eyeglasses, use a wheelchair, or have bigger bodies). Even the backgrounds of scenes include messages of positivity, such as “Smile Strive Succeed” and “We are unique.” The endpapers suggest that the main character has many future options; she might be a scientist, artist, superhero, track star, or student. The text includes discussion questions and activities that further enrich the story.

An uplifting celebration of one’s uniqueness.