Whoever You Are by Mem Fox, Leslie Staub (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around our earth, across cultures and generations. At a time when, unfortunately, the lessons of tolerance still need to be learned, Whoever You Are urges us to accept our differences, to recognize our similarities, and-most importantly-to rejoice in both.

Publishers Weekly

"Raschka translates the Shaker musical paean to a simplified life into a sort of peaceable kingdom where various animals dwell together in harmony with nature," said PW. "He creates an exceedingly handsome stained glass effect with heavy black lines juxtaposed against hues as warm as a flurry of autumn leaves." Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

This beautiful book features children from all over the world. They may not look like you, or speak your language, or do things the way you do them, but inside they are just like you. They smile and laugh and hurt. The simple text and bright illustrations helps readers to accept differences between people, to recognize similarities, and to rejoice in both.

Kirkus Reviews

A one-world, "we-are-all-the-same-under-the-skin" message for the very young from Fox (The Straight Line Wonder, p. 1388, etc.).

"Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world." Skin color, homes, schools, lifestyles, and languages may differ (and newcomer Staub shows how, in folk-art oil paintings mounted in gilded and jeweled wooden frames), but love and laughter, pain and tears are the same for all. The faces of the little ones in Staub's paintings are as appealing as dolls', and a beatific paternal figure in a sky-blue suit printed with clouds floats through the pages with a bevy of children in his arms. An essential book that acknowledges in the simplest of terms our common humanity.

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