Review: LOOK AT ME
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2013
Andrew is a young preschooler who tries to be very responsible. One night while washing his face and brushing his teeth, he notices a stain on his arm. Andrew becomes agitated over what his friends at school might think so he places a sticker on it to hide it. Of course the next night the sticker washes off and the stain reappears. Andrew comes up with two other solutions to hide it, which don't work either. Finally, he turns to his mother with the problem. She explains that both he and his father have birthmarks, which God has given them as a sign of uniqueness. These do not diminish their worth in any way. Andrew is reassured that being different is no cause for despair.I love the way the author creates a spirit of independence and self-reliance in Andrew. He turns to his mother only when he has tried hard to solve the problem himself. This story is written in verse which flows fairly well, and the illustrations are soft and charming. My only disappointment is that more cultural diversity might have been shown in the illustrations of classmates at school. Parents and educators should note that the book clearly has a Christian focus in saying that God has marked Andrew in a special way. However, this book surely encourages children to avoid peer pressure and express joy in their own uniqueness. As such, the book can be used as a teaching model.