Beautifully illustrated encouragement for all kids to be recognized for who they are on the inside and not what is seen on the outside. Too often kids are stereotyped by teachers and others before they have a chance to show who they truly are.

This is an empowering book for all kids.

A picture book about embracing and celebrating who you are. Always a great subject matter with young children and one that is also important in exploring how we respect and embrace others too.
The illustrations had plenty going on and this was a real strength, but I think the text had some issues in terms of clarity, and the book really needed a stronger narrative. It felt a little bit like it was trying too hard with its message and didn't fully deliver.
Not one I would recommend sadly.

Art work is outstanding. Read this with my son and he was hooked. He loved how he could see himself in the characters. Definitely would recommend.

Really not sure what to think on this book. I like the message behind it but I don't think the writing style is appropriate for the age range they are trying to grab. Maybe a re-think on the wording in this book is required.

This was a really cute story. I love how it shows love and friendship. The illustrations were precious and I loved the colors.

The message of Being You is clear: children should be able to express themselves freely and without judgment. The story is mostly told in the pictures, accompanied by what is essentially a poem. Two children, a boy and a girl, are shown in various day-to-day situations, experiencing emotions ranging from joy to anger.

While the lyrical text flows beautifully, at no point feeling forced or unnatural, it describes in a general way the emotions of the characters rather than telling a story in the traditional sense.

The illustrations employ a wonderful use of light and shadow as well as a skillful merging of colours to show various textures, which gives the already expressive pictures added depth.

The text seems a little advanced, at times even cryptic, for young children and is probably most suited to the upper band of the suggested age range of 3-9 years. But combined with a parent/teacher discussion of the illustrations and perhaps several read-throughs, younger children could also benefit from this uplifting book.

Cute story of loving yourself and recognizing that everyone is an individual. The children loved it. Great pictures and storyline.

This is a cute book. At times some of the wording didn't quite make sense to my little ones but they loved seeing the pictures and the overall message as did I!

A Beautifully poetic book that asks adults, especially educators, to look at “difficult” children with kindness and empathy.

I often hear comments about "the youth of today" all be lumped together because one person has done something to irritate, aggravate or hurt someone. This book is a perfect antidote to that sentiment. All people, children and adults, are unique and special. The book deals with stereotypes, particularly with children of colour, and encourages the character to rise above, they are more than that. I love the cadence of the text and the poetic nature of it. The illustrations are wonderful and very realistic. I can see a teacher or parent using this book with children to help them develop self-confidence and dispel stereotypes. Great for a late primary classroom.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the illustrations in this book. They were very colorful. However, I wasn't a fan of the writing in this book. It was written more like a poem and less like an actual book. I think it didn't really convey the message that the author wanted to convey. I understand what they were trying to say, but I don't think kids will get it.

This book would be such a great conversation starter emotionally for its content as well as academically for its rich use of language and poetry. It had a lot of heart and I love that it doesn't feel like it's talking down to kids. This feels like it would fit well for upper elementary.

This book is all about helping students realize that they are more than the negative stereotypes that they often see and hear about themselves. They don't have to be tough and they can reach out to others. They can choose how the world sees them ... what "sign" they have on their chest. A powerful reminder for those of us who work in field of education..

I will be honest, I don’t know how to review this book. It’s beautiful. And I was completely able to get what the author was saying. You are you. Don’t let the media, and societal prejudices make you anything less than you are and who you wish to be. I am a cis gender white woman who loves this book, but does not feel that I can adequately express how powerful I think it is. I am woke enough to know that this needs a better reviewer than I. One who has lived through these experiences and witnessed them first hand.

This is a book about looking past the negative stereotypes or definitions others have placed on you. It is about finding love for yourself through knowing yourself.

I love the diversity in this book. The illustrations are gorgeous! It's written in a poem format and that could be great for discussing poetry in the classroom.

"Being You" addresses the fact that children, especially children of color, are faced with people who will give them negative labels before getting to know them. Children respond by putting on a tough mask and hiding the vulnerable parts of them. This book encourages children to be themselves and choose people who are supportive of them.

I wasn't a huge fan of the lack of punctuation- I know it is a style thing but I think it could have used some.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alexs Pate, founder of Innocent Classroom, authors a powerful children's book. Being You was created in a desire to encourage children, particularly children of color, to reject labels and stereotypes and instead be freed to explore their interests and see where that leads them.

The format is non-rhyming poetry, with few words on a page; I found myself rereading some pages to better catch the flow and emphasize the right words as I went along:

"But in this world, there are whispers
that move through the air
like paper planes or falling leaves
They swirl around you

Sometimes they tell you
who you are
But only you and love decide"

The illustrator has contributed rich, empowering images to pair with the words. And as we go through the book, we notice teachers being aware of their students, noticing them and encouraging them:

"If you look deeper
past my disguise
you might see me
past my shadowed eyes"

This book fills an interesting niche. There seem to be two types of books with characters of color: either they seem to dwell on historical events (segregation, slavery, etc) or they are books where the characters are just living their lives, and their color is not a primary issue. Representation matters.

However, as I try to classify this book, it straddles the two. We see imaginative children, enjoying life, being creative, dreaming of their futures, but we also acknowledge the expectations and assumptions that can be made of them, labels that can be forced upon them.

Children need to see themselves in picture books. They need to see that the children in the books do things like they do, call their parents the same names they use, eat the same food, have similar problems. Oh, they want to read about adventures to, but it is nice when the hero is like you.

I read, recently, that Black boys are the most unrepresented characters in children's books. There are more books about animals then there are about Black children in general.

This book will not solve this problem, but it is a story of being seen for who you are, rather than a stereotype.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-611" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-10.20.27-PM.png" alt="Being You" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-612" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-10.01.07-PM.png" alt="Being YOu" />
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-604" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-13-at-9.29.28-AM.png" alt="Being You" />

Hopefully it fills a little hole in the lack of books about children of color.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Wow. This is a powerful book that sends an important message to children that they are free to be themselves. I think it also serves a realistic dose of perspective to any adults who might be lucky enough to enjoy this book with a child that that’s exactly who they are - children, and we are in their lives to help guide them through the difficult times. I really enjoyed the beautiful illustrations in this book as well. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!