Product Review: What’s My Color? [Paperback] (Grades K+)
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass
Excerpt from The Guy in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow (1895-1954), (c) 1934
I imagine all school-aged children in the United States (and the world?) feel pressure to fit in. As much as I would like to think that once we hit adulthood the pressure goes away, it is still there loud and clear. This book touched me because I imagine it will be very helpful in a few years when Brooke is feeling pressure or getting teased from kids in her class. I would like to be able to say what this book says (but in a nice song-like manner) that while it may feel like it matters so much, Brooke, it will never really matter what others think of you where it counts. What really matters is what you think of yourself and do your actions make you and our family proud. I am not so far removed from painful things in my childhood that I have forgotten the feelings and difficulties I had with schoolmates and it does Hurt. I suppose we all want to keep our children from any pain or to have issues with their self esteem, but we just have to be there as parents to offer love, support, guidance. It is good to remind them that they are special and unique just the way they are and that being different is not a bad thing and in many ways it is good to stand out if it is for the right reasons. I think this book will be a nice thing to read together when she is in grade school because, as we all know, none of us get through childhood unscathed from pressures and ridicule however minute but as parents we can hopefully act as a pressure valve from the frustrations for our children and help them on their way.
In What’s My Color? Bobbe Lynn is a young elementary girl who is having a difficult time getting dressed for school after being teased and is remembering comments made to her by her schoolmates on all of her outfits. She is afraid she is not able to satisfy her classmates by what she is wearing and is quickly going through every outfit of every color of clothes in her closet and finds fault with each item and is not ready for school. Bobbe’s mom, seeing her frustrated child, tries to tell her that clothes and her peer’s comments do not matter, but Bobbe does not seem convinced. After a few more words of wisdom from her mother, Bobbe Lynn realizes the negative comments and teasing from her peers did not have to affect her and even if she dressed in all of the colors of the rainbow she did not have to feel out of place if she was secure with herself. Yes, I can get on board with this book!
About Author Susanna Pankiw: A mother of three, teacher for 19 years, author, illustrator, poet and currently elementary school teacher in a small town outside of Alberta, Canada, Susanna is quite a busy mom. Check out her lovely blog here!
What’s My Color? [Paperback] (Grades K+)
List Price: $19.99 (Currently $15.59 through Amazon.com)
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