What Makes Us Unique?

August 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-A discussion on differences in physical appearance, personal preference, culture, and lifestyle ("In nature, a rainbow is made beautiful by all of its different colors. And just like that rainbow, the world is made beautiful because it's filled with many different kinds of people."). Simple questions (for instance, "What about different cultures?") help prod the narrative along after each topic (e.g., tradition, language) is covered. The overall message is that people are all much more alike than different. The illustrations, done in oil, are bright and playful and depict individuals who are diverse in terms of skin color, race, body shape, age, and physical capability. Illustrated scenes of folks waiting in line at a bus stop or playing in a park are familiar and ideal for the intended age group. Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion. VERDICT An accessible introduction for young children to the concepts of diversity and respect.-Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
The huge topic of human diversity is here given cursory treatment that may raise more questions than it answers. Using the analogy of a rainbow, human differences including race, physical ability, personality type, culture, family structure, and occupation are portrayed as nothing to be afraid of and less significant than our basic human commonalities. The intended audience for this work is unclear. The text ranges from quite simplistic ("People have different eye colors. They have different hair colors. They have different skin colors") to fairly complex ("Culture is a word we use to describe the shared attitudes, practices and beliefs of a certain group of people"). Readers may also not grasp that the oblique mention of lifestyle differences may be referring to socio-economic diversity. Some topics are unfortunately treated in a noninclusive way; the detailed description of different kinds of families ignores the very common multigenerational model, and sexual orientation is presented as binary, erasing bisexual and pansexual individuals. Cartoonlike illustrations show people of different skin tones, physical abilities, and ages wearing a variety of types of clothing, including Sikh turbans and Muslim hijab, and often interacting in positive ways. While the overall message is laudable, the book attempts to cover too much territory with too few details to sustain interest, satisfy the natural curiosity that diversity arouses, or offer support to those who feel marginalized due to their differences. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2021
Explaining the ways in which people can be different and fostering respect for these differences, this book -- now in a paperback edition -- describes how diversity can include outside variances (such as eye color, shape, and physical ability), personality characteristics (such as being gregarious versus introverted), and cultural differences. Child-friendly art, appropriately reflecting the "rainbow" of human differences, accompanies the purposeful, well-intentioned text. A final page addresses sexual orientation, racism, and prejudice in a bit more detail.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2017
Explaining the ways in which people can be different and fostering respect for these differences, this book describes how diversity can include outside variances (such as eye color, shape, and physical ability), personality characteristics (such as being gregarious versus introverted), and cultural differences. Child-friendly art, appropriately reflecting the "rainbow" of human differences, accompanies the purposeful, well-intentioned text.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)