Looking Like Me

by Walter Dean Myers Narrated by Dion Graham, Quincy Tyler Bernstine

Overview

When you look in a mirror, who do you see?

A boy? A girl?
A son? A daughter?
A runner? A dancer?

Whoever and whatever you see - just put out your fist and give yourself an "I am" BAM!

This jumping, jazzy, joyful picture book by the award-winning team of Walter Dean and Christoper Myers celebrates every child, and every thing that child can be.

Jeremy notices that everyone sees him differently: to his sister, he's a little brother; to his teacher, he's a writer; to his mother, he's a dreamer. With hip-hop verse and vibrant artwork that resonates with urban verve, this extraordinary tribute to oneself will resonate with children and adults of all ages and backgrounds.

A Live Oak Media audio production.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

This always-inventive father and son team (Jazz) offers up an “I am jam,” celebrating how every individual is really a collection of identities. The rap-like verse is voiced by a young narrator named Jeremy, who notices that every person he encounters sees him in a different light: to his sister, he’s a little brother; to his teacher (whose real life counterparts may find inspiration in these pages for a memorable classroom activity), he’s a writer; to a cute passerby, he’s a dancer; to his mother, he’s a dreamer. Each new identity is hailed with an exuberant fist bump: “The mailman lifted his fist./ I gave it a bam!/ It is kind of amazing all the people I am.” Jeremy clearly enjoys the dizzying possibilities that emerge from his conversations, musing at one point, “I’m walking tall and I’m walking proud./ Looked in a mirror—I look like a crowd.” Christopher Myers seconds that emotion with fluorescent and occasionally psychedelic collages that combine digital human figures (reminiscent of early iPod ads) with photographs. He conjures up a funky, visually fluid funhouse that proves pigeonholes are strictly for pigeons. Ages 5–9. (Oct.)

School Library Journal

Gr 1–5—The dynamic father-son duo returns with another high-energy poetry book. Looking Like Me is a song of oneself, and of all of the elements that make up and define an individual. On first looking in the mirror, Jeremy sees "a real handsome dude/looking just like me." When friends and family see him, he discovers that he is also a brother, a son, a writer, a city child—a whole world in one self. The poetry sings with Walter Dean Myers's trademark urban verve. Jeremy punctuates his encounters by fist-bumping his family members and associates and exclaiming "I gave it [the fist] a BAM!" This now-familiar gesture powerfully expresses the solidarity Jeremy feels with the others in his community. Moreover, these encounters underline how his relationships shape his perceptions of himself. The rhyme and repetition flow naturally, capturing the rhythms of everyday conversation and the hip-hop beats many children hear daily. Christopher Myers's bold, vivid illustrations fuel the energy of his father's verse. Bright paper cutouts of the characters stand before photo collages that capture lively occasions in a variety of cultures. These paper figures are blue, green, and other colors that do not correspond to natural skin tones. Children of any ethnic background thus can project themselves onto the silhouettes. This book is an excellent introduction to verse, for it vividly demonstrates how poetry is a vital part of daily life.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

Kirkus Reviews

The Myerses-father and son-reunite for a poetic celebration of self that blends a sort of Whitman-esque hip-hop with '70s-vibe visuals. Adapting the cumulative cadences of Bill Martin's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Walter Dean Myers's text immediately establishes a preeminent self-affirmation: "I looked in the mirror / And what did I see? / A real handsome dude looking just like me." Narrator Jeremy hears from a succession of family, neighbors and community members and adds role after role to his portfolio. He's a brother, son, writer, city kid, artist, dancer, talker, runner, dreamer: "Looked in the mirror- / I look like a crowd." Christopher Myers overlays eclectic photo collages with stylized, silhouetted figures in saturated hues of chartreuse, butternut, chocolate, magenta and more. The text's two upper-case typefaces look like gritty, spray-painted stencils and whimsical woodcuts. There's a touch of call-and-response in the refrain ("He put out his fist. / I gave it a BAM!") that begs to be read aloud. This vibrant synthesis of poetry and pictures is a natural for classrooms and family sharing. (author's note, not seen) (Picture book. 4-8)

From the Publisher

"Students will enjoy the jazzy rhythm and upbeat message of the poem....Highly Recommended." —starred review, Library Media Connection

School Library Journal - Audio

PreS-Gr 2—The father-son team of Walter Dean and Christopher Myers has written and illustrated a picture book (EgmontUSA, 2009) that invites us to acknowledge all the people that each one of us can be. When young Jeremy looks in a mirror, he sees a "handsome dude" looking back. His sister adds that he is a little brother. He's also a son, a dancer, a writer, an artist, a dreamer, a city child, a runner, "a talker with many tales to tell," and more. As Jeremy adds identities, and fist-bumps people along the way, he realizes that there are probably many more adjectives to come. The rhythmic poems on each page are turned into exuberant dialogue by the narrators. Dion Graham has the perfect voice and intonation for the lively and savvy Jeremy, and Quincy Tyler Bernstine expressively voices the female characters. Mario Rodriquez's music echoes the theme and illustrations: a sweet girl comments that Jeremy is a dancer to a salsa beat; when he's described as a city child, there are background city sounds. Although Christopher Myers's vibrant collages are sometimes difficult to interpret, the juxtaposition of silhouette against the photo-collages and the lively arrangement of the text on each colorful page create a jazzy accompaniment to this invitation to self-discovery.—MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, NY

SEPTEMBER 2011 - AudioFile

This audio-and-picture-book combination creates a seamless collage of color and sound, with a vibrant message of limitless dreams. Dion Graham’s confident, enthusiastic narration powerfully depicts a young African-American boy who is beginning to identify who he is in the world. Quincy Tyler Bernstine adds a dynamic array of female voices. No detail is overlooked in this production. The background music lends a sense of anticipation to the opening credits and underscores the story with its laid-back groove. Realistic sound effects link the audio to the pictures and reflect the story’s urban setting. Best of all, the book is fun! Its compelling poetry invites the audience on an adventure of self-discovery. A.M.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2012 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178720639
Publisher:	Live Oak Media
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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