Cover Image: A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book is a wonderfully diverse reminder for both adults and children that kiddos come in all shapes, sizes, cultures, abilities, and interests - but at the end of the day, they are all just kids who want to be asked to play. I love the message in this and feel like it is a timeless moral for both children and adults alike and can serve as a great jump-off point for a conversation about what children would prefer they be asked about, how they can ask others about themselves with kindness, etc. This book is an instant classic.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book so much, I immediately went out and bought myself a hardcover copy to have at home.

The story is wonderful, and very easily accessible for children - YES PLEASE
The art is lovely - BONUS
And the inclusion is oftentimes subtle in a way that shows children rather than tells them how people are to always be included, not in spite of differences but regardless of them.

I love it. And my child loves it! She requests it often! I think she loves it because of the tone and rhythm of the story.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a good book. It introduces how harmful words can be even if that was not your intention and teaches kids to think about the questions they are asking others. You could even start a discussion within the classroom/library group about questions the children don't like being asked.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great read not only for kids, but for parents. I love the message and highly recommend all families read this together!

Was this review helpful?

A Kid is a Kid is a colorful, inclusive book that celebrates all the things that make us different. This is a great follow up from O'Learys books A Family is a Family.

Was this review helpful?

I was pretty excited to read this after A Family is a Family is a Family. It just didn't quite have that same magic. I won't be using this as a read aloud in library, but I will add it to our collection as I can name a few kiddos who would enjoy this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a sweet book and I would definitely recommend. It was a very short book and even though I do wish it was longer the book gets its message across clearly.
This is a book that first starts off with kids on a playground discussing questions that they are tired of hearing and then responding with varying answers from the obvious to a more serious answer/wish. The book does have a positive spin towards the end as the kids discuss what they wish others would ask them.
I liked the positive spin at the end of the book and all of the kids could find common ground even though they were all different.
There was a range of diversity in this book. There were kids with different skin colors and body types, as well as a girl who has a prosthetic leg.
I think this is a good book for kids to A) a way for them to feel heard and B) to find ideas on questions to ask other kids. I also think that this book will be useful for adults for helping to find questions for kids.
One of my favorite scenes was: a girl saying “Why would anyone ask me why my sister was born different?” and the next picture is of her sister in an incubator and the caption “Everyone’s different.”

Was this review helpful?

"A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid" by Sara O'Leary is a lovely book about a grade schooler who doesn't understand why people always ask them the same question about their gender. Soon, they discover that everyone else on the playground gets tired of having their differences pointed out in the form of a question as well. It's a heartwarming snapshot into the illogical questions kids are asked and why they don't matter at all.

Was this review helpful?

The intent here is clear - to help kids develop empathy. To point out how we all have things that make us different but pointing out or asking about them can be hurtful. The illustrations elevate the experience. It feels, though, like a book you use in response to an incident rather than something to just put in front of a kid.

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful story about just being a kid. It isn't important what you look like or what you wear. What is important is that you are kind and see that all around you no matter the difference we are all amazing. Sure you might have short hair, you might eat the same thing every day, maybe you like science, or playing outside. It is not why are we different it is why are you not? Our differences are what make us so special!

Was this review helpful?

This book is absolutely amazing and one that I would definitely add to my classroom library. The book gives a voice to every type of child on the playground, from the one who feels left out to the one who feels ostracized because of their culture's food. Sara O'Leary knocks it out of the park with this one.

Was this review helpful?

A Kid is a Kid is a Kid is a great book, that brings up uncomfortable questions that are asked to kids by kids-for instance are you a girl or boy? It ask the inappropriate question followed by the question or the comment that should have been made. This is a great beginning of the year book to start talking about what is respectful and how to think before you ask. I like the diverse illustrations. This will be a book I buy for the beginning of the year!

Was this review helpful?

This delightfully illustrated book focuses on questions that kids ask.

There are poor questions that point out how the other person is different. “Why are you so small?” There are good questions such as “What’s your dog’s name?” And one of the best questions is “Do you want to play?”

As a deaf person, I know of many questions that drive many deaf people nuts: “Can you lip read?” “Can you read Braille?” (Braille is for blind people) “Can you drive?” Hopefully this book will help train children to avoid rude or ignorant questions by the time they grow up.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Groundwood Books, and House of Anansi Press for sharing your lovely book with me.

Was this review helpful?

Very cute book. Being a mom of 3 young boys, it is nice to read them something that shows them that they can be different and that is ok. Everyone is different and you need to accept them for who they are.

Was this review helpful?

When was the last time a picture book made you want to cry with happiness? This one right here, this almost did it. This book is all about what kids do not like being asked. It starts with “I can think of better things to ask than if I’m a goy or a girl.” And you have all forms of questions about why people are the way they are. And so many topics are covered in such a smart way. It is simply lovely. I constantly recommend The Human Race by Jamie Lee Curtis as a way to explain how people are different. This book is going on the same list because it doesn't try to explain the human race, instead it says, who cares, I am human, and I have value!. I absolutely LOVED This BOOK!.

Was this review helpful?

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid, written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Qin Leng, is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on August 3 2001.

Being the new kid is hard, a child in the school playground tells us. I can think of better things to ask than if I’m a boy or a girl. Another child comes along and says she gets asked why she always has her nose in a book. Someone else gets asked where they come from. One after another, children share the questions they’re tired of being asked again and again — as opposed to what they believe are the most important or interesting things about themselves. As they move around the playground, picking up new friends along the way, there is a feeling of understanding and acceptance among them. And in the end, the new kid comes up with the question they would definitely all like to hear: “Hey kid, want to play?”

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid is a wonderful book, and a follow up to the equally well done A Family is a Family is a Family. It shows that everyone is different. Yes we all look different, like different things, have different skills, have different experiences. However, and more importantly, we are also all the same. We all want acceptance, friendship, and fun. I think the book handles this simple, but oh so important idea very well and the books makes for an enjoyable and thought provoking read for all readers. I think this is an important read, and one that could be shared in many classroom and other group settings with a positive response and as a great conversation starter for those that might be struggling.

Was this review helpful?

This book was unique but doesn't get it's point across that well. I still think it's a great way to raise questions about kids, but wasn't as good as it could have been.

Two out of five stars. Not too much to say about this, it didn't wow me but it wasn't totally bad either.

Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press Inc. for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The point of this book was great and very relevant. My kids liked the illustrations and appreciated the point. However all of us got lost with the wording. The book doesn't flow and isn't super kid friendly. The book isn't that long and there were several times my kids asked "what" and we had to talk about the meaning of the book, versus what the words actually said. Normally I love bringing books to my school kids as well, however this is not one I feel like I can bring to my school kids without a page by page explanation. I had high hopes for this book and while the intent is good, this one fell flat for me.

Was this review helpful?

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid is a follow up to A Family is a Family is a Family. Like it, it showcases a diverse group of characters. Qin Leng's detailed, soft artwork is the optimal compliment for Sara O'Leary's important words. Together they share messages that help make a better world.
This book is about the different kinds of questions we get asked. The response are powerful.
It starts our with a new student going to school. They say, "I can think of better things to ask if I'm a boy or a girl?" "What a question!"
The creators show how questions can be micro aggressions. They can be more about putting someone down, or putting them into a box rather than getting to know them. In contrast, the responses say, "Look at me, this is who I am."
Readers are presented with options for how to respond when we see someone being asked one of those kinds of questions.
I really appreciate how eventually this gets turned around and teaches readers alternatives. Children suggest the kinds of questions to ask instead.
Ask me my dog's name. Ask me if you can try my lunch.
Ultimately this is a book about looking beyond the surface of what we see to find out who each of us really are. It's about being comfortable in our own uniqueness and celebrating others.

Adults can learn a lot from this book.

Was this review helpful?

This one was really cute! I like all the different kids and how they talk about their differences. I liked how they all just want to play together and don't really care about their differences. I wish we all could be more like kids and how they just play together and not worry about the differences of others.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Was this review helpful?