Review: You Matter by Christian Robinson!

YOU MATTER

by Christian Robinson

Atheneum

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 3 to 8

COMING...

JUNE 2nd!!!

They All Saw a Cat meets The Important Book in this sensitive and impactful picture book about seeing the world from different points of view by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honoree Christian Robinson.

In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored—from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they’re feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters. 

     

MY TIDBITS

Word of encouragement hit at just the right time in this celebration of self-worth.

The title already says it all—you matter. Hitting examples out of life, which illustrate how small or slow or first or old things can be in everyday life, the message then rings clear that none of that is important because you matter. The scenes are mostly taken from nature and outdoor activities and range from dinosaurs to space travel to a quite day in the park.

There's no way to ignore the message when reading through these pages, and it's one that young listeners can never hear enough. Of course, just a message would be boring, and the author makes sure this book is anything but. He builds in a variety of scenes, making sure that almost every listener will see something that sparks their interest or that they can relate to. While some pages show science, others hit more day to day events. It's a lovely mixture, especially since there's also a bit of humor thrown in now and then.

The phrases on each page are kept very short and come directly to the point. The illustrations then expand on these words, allowing the visual scenes to carry just as much of the book as the text. The vocabulary is simple, making it a nice read for even the younger end of the read-aloud audience. And some depictions are sure to grab a few passing comments from young listeners, too.

This is a lovely read-aloud which spreads an uplifting message, while not forgetting that young listeners enjoy the illustrations just as much if not more than the text. In other words, it gets a big thumbs up.


And here he is...

Christian Robinson was born in Holly wood, California, in 1986. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. His books include Gaston and Antoinette, written by Kelly DiPucchio, and the 31 New York Times bestseller, Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peria, which was awarded the Caldecott Honor, the Coretta Scott King illustrator Honor and the Newbery Medal. Visit him online at TheArtofFun.com