Review: I'm a Girl by Yasmeen Ismail

9781619639751

$16.99

The illustrations on this one looked familiar, and I finally located my mini review of One Word from Sophia, posted about this time last year. Same splashes of color and joie de vivre in these illustrations, and this time it carries over into the words. 

Our spunky young rabbit likes to have fun and make noise, isn't too concerned about making a mess. It does annoy her, however, when people are constantly mistaking her for a boy, prompting the constant refrain of, "I'm a girl! I'm a girl! I'm a girl!"In the end, she meets a boy who likes to play with dolls, and they end up having fun being themselves together.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While it didn't resonate with my kids, who are used to boys and girls playing however they want to, I immediately thought of a couple little girls I may be handing this off to. I'm sure most librarians or teachers will find a name or two springing to mind when they read it. and I found the fact that the bunny is never discouraged or feels she had to change very positive. 

After a few readings, however, I realized that the anti-stereotypes were almost a stereotype themselves, if that makes any sense. Almost every 'boyish' thing she did is portrayed in a negative light - messy, loud, destructive - with corresponding reactions from adults. Does this mean tomboys are just obnoxious? That boys have no manners? That being yourself means making everyone around you angry, and that's okay?

On the surface a positive book, but the mixed messages keep me from giving it a glowing review.

***This book has been nominated for the Cybils Awards, and I am a first-round panelist in this category. There are many other panelists, and many MANY other great nominees, so a good or bad review here does not necessarily predict placement on the shortlist. 

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Egg loves Bacon.

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Bacon is sizzling with popularity. 

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That is-until Bacon's fame goes to his head. He's so busy soaking up the attention, that he soon forgets the important things in life, like friendship and family. How will it all pan out for our dashing, delicious hero?

Plot summary: Everyone loved Bacon. And then my husband ate him. The end.

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Sophia tries varied techniques to get the giraffe she wants more than anything in this playfully illustrated story about the nuances of negotiation.

Sophia has one true desire for her birthday. But she has Four Big Problems in the way: Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad...and Grand-mama.

Will her presentations, proposals, and pie charts convince them otherwise?

Turns out, all it takes is one word.

While you can probably guess the word that finally works, "accompanied by a particularly compelling pair of eyes", the trip there is a fun one - with a mini vocabulary lesson along the way. Cute!

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Seems like everyone in the world has been talking about this little series, and we finally got them in here. I'll just echo what everyone else in the world has said - sweet little books about welcoming a new sibling, and some of the ups and downs that come after. Plenty for kids to associate with, warmly and beautifully illustrated. I adored the pictures, and Willow would have been part of Shane's name had he not been a Shane. The first has already been translated into Spanish, and I'm sure more titles will be coming.