DO YOU SEE ME?

Upon receiving affirming messages from a caregiver, a youngster surges in confidence.

Parent and child, both presenting Black and dressed for cool weather, walk along the shore, a small unleashed gray dog in train. On each spread, the little one asks, “Do you see me?” The adult responds affirmatively, listing in turn the many positive traits that the child displays: “Yes indeed, I see you helping friends in need,” “I see courage when you face fear,” “You fill my eyes. / I see adventure and surprise.” Meanwhile, Brown’s images depict the child comforting the dog after a crab claws at its paw, inching bravely across a suspended log, and excitedly venturing onto the rocks as the waves splash. When the parent turns the question to the child, asking, “Do you see you?” the little one responds with self-praise (“I see myself, warm and caring”) and eagerness for the future (“I’m ready to learn, to grow, to be”). On the penultimate spread, the two return home, where another parent embraces the first, rounding out an image of a loving, tightknit Black family. Middlemiss’ empowering verse has a simple rhyme scheme and makes for a pleasant read-aloud despite the inconsistent meter and the occasional forced rhyme. What Brown’s digital art lacks in warmth, it makes up for in its convincing rendering of a seaside town, with its cliffs, sparkling water, charming shops, and views of the horizon.

This celebration of childhood adventure and freedom is a breath of fresh air.