The Skin You Live in

This debut publication of the Chicago Children's Museum presents a jaunty rhyme that playfully explores the concept of skin to encourage self-esteem and to celebrate the ways in which children are both unique and similar. While Csicsko's cheerful, quirky art, which takes liberties with proportion and perspective, shows children of various skin colors engaged in different activities, the narrative invites readers to look at their skin: "The skin you have fun in; the skin that you run in; the skin that you hop, skip and jump in the sun in." The text then uses food-related metaphors as it pays tribute to skin tones: "Your coffee and cream skin, your warm cocoa dream skin... Your chocolate chip, double dip sundae supreme skin!" By pointing out what skin is "not", subsequent verses affably emphasize that skin should not be divisive: "It's not dumb skin or smart skin, or keep us apart skin; or weak skin or strong skin, I'm right and you're wrong skin." Portraying four smiling children, the concluding spread declares, "when we stand side-by-side in our wonderful hues... We all make a beauty, so wonderfully true. We are special and different and just the same, too!" Though occasionally verging on saccharine, this spry poem delivers its message with appealing energy and confidence; slightly older readers may enjoy Julius Lester's recent "Let's Talk About Race", illus. by Karen Barbour. Ages 4-8. "(Apr.)" Copyright 2005 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2 -This picture book takes a cheerful look at human diversity by focusing on skin. Rhyming verses describe the many experiences that can be had in it ("The skin you have fun in; /the skin that you run in; /the skin that you hop, /skip and jump in the sun in -&"); the different shades in which it comes ("Your butterscotch gold skin, /your lemon tart bold skin; /your mountain high apple pie, /cookie dough rolled skin!"); and the things that it is not ("It's not tall skin/or short skin, /or best in the sport skin"). The poem ends by emphasizing the importance of the " 'You' who's within" and pointing out that skin is something that makes individuals different and similar at the same time. Tyler's cadenced language makes this a very rhythmic read-aloud. Csicsko's vibrant and energetic illustrations are a perfect complement to the text and feature stylized children with elliptical faces and flowing fingers. Differences in the appearances of the youngsters go beyond skin color and include hairstyles, freckles, and eye shape. While somewhat lengthy -the metaphors seem to go on and on -this volume is an affirming addition to the collection of books dealing with self-esteem and multiculturalism. -"Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA" Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.