Being You

by Alexs Pate, Soud (Illustrator)

Overview

Award-winning author and professor Alexs Pate delivers a message of hope and self-discovery in a time of uncertainty in our world. BEING YOU is a beautiful picture book celebrating every readers' individuality and talents. With an authentic voice, BEING YOU's poetic message of love and optimism for the future speaks directly to today's children. BEING YOU helps us to see the wonder and light within each of us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684460212
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 9 Years

About the Author

Alexs Pate is an award-winning American author, novelist, playwright, and writing professor. He has published five novels to date, including the New York Times Bestseller Amistad. His novel Losing Absalom has received the Minnesota Book Award and was named Best First Novel by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Pate also serves as president of Innocent Technologies, LLC, whose mission is to provide professional development experiences to educators and healthcare workers that improve and build better relationships with students and patients. http://innocentclassroom.com/our-company

Soud is a freelance illustrator working in advertising, editorial, and children’s illustration. He has illustrated many books for children and young readers in his native Brazil. He won the Abril Award of Journalism for Best Illustration, and the Highly Commended Seal by FNLIJ (Brazil’s National Children’s Book and Youth Foundation). In the US, Soud illustrated Dionne Warwick’s picture book, Say A Little Prayer, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and won a Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Medal.http://painted-words.com/portfolio/soud-3/

Interviews

1. Diverse creators contribute to the #ownvoices movement 2. A positive, self-affirming message will appeal to kids of all ages 3. Stimulates conversations around self-acceptance and bullying

Editorial Reviews

2018-08-14

Words addressed to children aimed at truth-telling, encouraging, and inspiring are accompanied by pictures of children of color going about their days.

"This story is about you," the narrator opens, as a black boy looks up toward readers, a listening expression on his face. A multiracial group of children romp in a playground to encouraging words: "you are… / a dancer / a singer / in charge of the game." Then comes a warning about the "whispers" out in the world that "tell you who you are / But only you and love decide." There is advice about what to do when you "think there is nowhere safe": "Watch a bird soar / and think, / Me too." It asks readers to wonder: "If there was a sign on your chest / what would it say?" Children argue and show frustration and anger for reasons unclear to readers, then they hold up signs about themselves, such as "I am powerful" and "I am talented." A girl looks hurt, and a boy looks "tough" until someone finds them "sitting there wondering / when the sky will blue." While the words are general, the pictures specify a teacher, who is brown-skinned with straight black hair, as one who "can see you." While young readers may find the wording unusual, even obscure in places, the nurturing message will not be lost.

Heartfelt content for children who need to feel seen. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

This book not only encourages young readers to be themselves, but also encourages the grownups reading along to help them. It's an excellent way for all young readers to hear the message that they can let their light shine. Being You will be equally inspiring to young girls and young boys of all ages and I highly recommend you check it out!

Girls Read the World

Holiday Books 2018. Twin Cities writer Alexs Pate teams up with Brazilian illustrator Soud to create a colorful, uplifting book for children that celebrates the possibilities of life. . . .Pate’s words are honest and poetic.

Star Tribune