LitPick Review
Age at time of review - 25
Reviewer's Location -
New Holland,
PA,
United States
View tlewis's profile
When people think of twins, they often think of people who look and act alike. Some see twins as exactly the same person, but everyone is unique, no matter if they’re a twin or not.
In this meaningful picture book, The Only Me, by Marissa Bader, we are introduced to Stella, the narrator of the story, and her twin sister, Paige. They are twins, but they don’t look alike, and even though they have some similar interests, they are two very different people.
Stella gets frustrated when people treat them as the same person or when people make comments about wondering how they’re twins because they look nothing alike and are so different.
She starts to get down on herself when she thinks of all the ways Paige seems better than her. Stella must work through her frustration to embrace her own uniqueness.
Opinion:
The Only Me is a fantastic book for children to read as they learn to embrace who they are. Each child is uniquely gifted, and this book showcases that. No matter the genetics a person shares with someone else, each one of us is our own person.
My own children are a year a half apart, and they are often mistaken as twins. Even though they are both girls, they have their own interests, and it’s beautiful to watch them develop their own personalities and passions. Just like people bought Stella and Paige matching outfits (to their dismay), the same has happened with my girls – but they like different colors and styles.
The author, Marissa Bader, has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and she focuses on parenthood and mental health. That experience and passion is seamlessly woven into this book. Her own children were the inspiration for The Only Me. This book is engaging and informative. It is well-structured and relatable.
The illustrations by Arlene Soto enhance the story and capture the rollercoaster of emotions Stella experiences.
This book lends itself very nicely to classroom and family discussions about celebrating our differences and embracing our individuality – no matter what people expect of us.
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Read more reviews by this Litpick Book Reviewer: tlewis