Review: Not true self-esteem - it's all about appearance
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2013
I must say, I was disappointed with this book.  This book does NOT teach self-esteem. Hugo's main problem is that he thinks he's ugly (by the way, not a phrase I want to teach my young child).  He only decides to accept himself because he thinks the changes to his appearance make him MORE ugly.  That's not self-esteem.  It's superficial and based on outward appearance, not character.  My daughter liked the illustrations, but I refuse to read her the story.  It don't want to put the idea of being ugly in her head.  She'll start saying it on her own one day when she compares herself to supermodels and airbrushed magazine photos.  I don't have to plant the idea in her head by reading her a story where the main character's biggest gripe is "I'm ugly!"