Review: Self-esteem and self-confidence: two worthy lessons in one lovely story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 13, 2013
Having become an admirer of the manner in which Idan Hadari creates his children's books, it is always with pleasure to see a new one placed before the public. He couples fine rhyming verse with excellent story lines and embellishes his book with excellent illustrations - never ploying but always with a degree of realism that children can relate to and find similarities with their own live.Andrew is a fine lad who performs his personal chores especially at bedtime. But one evening he notices a brown stain on his arm - a worrisome and ugly mark that won't wash off and causes him so much embarrassment that he decides to cover it with a sticker so that no one at pre-school will notice it. That works for him but the next day after showering the make is still there. He decides to draw a flower over it: that doesn't last either. He decides to wear a sweatshirt to cover it but the summer heat makes him uncomfortable. Finally he shares his fright and his brown spot with his mother who explains the spot is not a stain but a birthmark much like his father has on his back. His mother assures Andrew that she loves him and reassures him that it is a birthmark that should make him feel unique. And sure enough the next day when he shares his birthmark with his fellow students they consider him a star!This is a gentle story that reinforces self-confidence and self-esteem and traits they may have that make them unique. Every child can relate to this  - and hopefully grow to appreciate their own special gifts. Grady Harp, September 13