SOMETIMES, ALL I NEED IS ME

A young girl finds courage, comfort, and peace within.

An unnamed young girl with light-brown skin, cued as Latinx, tells readers about the various people in her life and the activities she enjoys doing with them. Sometimes she spends cozy hours at home with her single mom and their dog, Rumba; goes on camping trips with other kids; and splashes around in rain puddles with her White-presenting friend, Mateo. When she needs help, there are neighbors she can count on, and if she feels sad, “a hug from Grandma makes everything better.” But sometimes, when she’s away from home or there is no one around, she has to rely on herself: “I become my own home, where I feel calm.” “I can be my own company and make my own magic,” the girl shares, and “I can love myself and become whatever I need.” Children will learn that they can give themselves a hug if no one is available to do so and create their own light, if need be. Perdomo’s simple but powerful narrative explores the balance between self-reliance and dependency and conveys the equal importance of self-care and allowing others to care for us. The colorful digital illustrations, endearingly rendered in a naïve art style, show the girl spending her alone time contentedly doing the things she loves, like dancing to samba music and putting on a magic show for her toys.

A heartfelt, reassuring picture book that will help children develop inner resources and psychological strength.