I Am Enough

Book:  I Am Enough (Book Link)
Author: Grace Byers (Author Link)
Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo (Illustrator Link)
Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher
Date of Publication: 2018
Genre: Picture Book, Written in the last 4 years, Diverse Protagonists
Lexile Score: Unavailable - Intended for age 4-8
Citation: Byers, G. (2018). I Am Enough. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publisher.

Summary: The book shows a story of children in everyday life situations.  The rhyming words on the page showcase what we are hear in this world to do.  It explains multiple reasons that we are here on Earth, and struggle we may face along the way.  All the while the pages are filled with diverse illustrations that showcase characters of different races, sizes, and those with disabilities.  It shows that even though we are not all the same we can still be friends, and help each other.  The end message being that we must realize that even though we are different than others it in no way takes away from our worth, and that we are enough. 

Audience:  I would say this book would be targeted at grades first through fourth.  The illustrations would be great talking points to use in any class.  I think it could be used to introduce the concepts of being different and accepting one another.  However in the younger grades I think it might need more explanation to help them understand the deeper meaning.  Overall however I think the book was amazing, and should really be in every classroom.  I have yet to see a book as diverse as this one, with such a strong message that children would be able to understand.  

Evaluation:  This picture book had appealing characteristics.  In I Am Enough the author uses rhyme, while making the book rhythmic to keep you interested.  As you turn the page, you can anticipate what it will say.  The theme is also very strong in this story.  It showcases friendship among a variety of individuals and strongly voices that all children are great in their own skin.  Since there are such powerful illustrations children would be able to connect and clearly see what the author is trying to convey.  I think this book is also a great example of multicultural literature.  No two characters in the book are the same.  They come from different ethnic backgrounds, therefore some  characters are African American, Chinese, and Indian.  They also differ in abilities, some are pictured falling down, and some are in a wheelchairs.  Overall it has a great message of that even though we aren't all the same we can still get along, and are amazing just the way we are.

Activity: 
This activity would be completed after reading the book to the class as a group, or if they read it individually.

Roll & Retell: For this activity they could work with a partner and need a dice.  Each number would represent a different question they would have to answer about the story they just read.  Each number on the dice would represent the following question.
1 - What is the story mostly about?
2 - Who are the main character?
3 - Where does the story take place?
4 - When does the story take place?
5 - What happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story?
6 - What questions do you have about the story?

Gutierrez, Cristhal. “Roll and Retell.” Teachers Pay Teachers, 2017,                         
          www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Roll-and-Retell-2436320.