MY SELF, YOUR SELF

Explore the magic of knowing yourself.

A small fey creature, perhaps a sprite or a pixie, in a lush landscape of flowers and greenery guides readers through a simple but profound examination of their self and their interactions with others. Emerging from their acorn-shaped home, the creature, which vaguely resembles a radish (in boots), goes about their interactions with other characters inspired by nature, such as a walking, mushroomlike friend and a tall, flowerlike chef. As they interact, thoughtful narration guides their day: “I have been / with my self / for a very long time. // MY self is not / YOUR self. / What is a self? / Is it INSIDE of us? / or OUTSIDE of us?” Each question accompanies a vignette of small acts, from buttoning up a coat to making a sandwich, but caregivers and educators will know that it’s more than that; each question and simple sentence is there to encourage dialogue and self-discovery from young readers. As the narration continues, readers learn what small things the creature likes about themself and their companions. The story is a study in self-awareness, one made stronger by the gorgeously detailed mixed-media illustrations and hand-lettered phrases that hark back to the aesthetics of the late 1960s and early 1970s. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sublime joy.