I Like Me!

The ebullient pig-heroine is a happy adherent to the adage "Love Thyself." "I like me!" she exclaims from the cover and goes on to say, "I like my curly tail, my round tummy and my tiny little feet." The fresh-faced piggy elaborates: she always treats herself with respect by keeping herself clean, eating good food and exercising properly. She takes care of other important needs, too, drawing lovely pictures, reading good books and cheering herself up when she's feeling down. Never too hard on herself for failures, she points out that when she makes mistakes, she tries again. The formation of a healthy self-image, the cornerstone of a happy and successful life, is what this book is all about. Bright, colorful pictures complement the bouncy, upbeat text; Carlson skillfully imparts a positive message without denying that life holds embarrassingeven sadmoments. The book and its heroine are loaded with appeal. Ages 2-6. (August)

PreS-Gr 1 "I Like Me," says an emphatically cheerful girl-pig who demonstrates an imperturbable sense of self-esteem: "I have a best friend. That best friend is me!" She paints, bikes, reads, takes good care of herself, and even deals with her own occasional fallibility: "When I make mistakes, I try and try and try again." I Like Me is visually interesting, with sturdy animals drawn in a deliberately artless style. Simple shapes, strong lines, and clear colors, with lots of pattern mixing, show what is not described in the minimal text. The text is hand-lettered. The content is less intriguing than the artwork. A direct message, clearly stated, is preferable to one couched around a fictional plot, but, even so, this book exists primarily as a vehicle to bolster a child's self-esteem. Healthy children will relate to and probably enjoy this book, while the children who need it most may not be affected at all. An additional purchase rather than a top-priority item. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, Ill.