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Looking Like Me
When you look in a mirror, who do you see?
A boy? A girl?
A son? A daughter?
A runner? A dancer?
Whoever and whatever you see―just put out your fist and give yourself an "I am" BAM!
This jumping, jazzy, joyful picture book by the award-winning team of Walter Dean Myers and Christoper Myers celebrates every child, and every thing that a child can be.
A boy? A girl?
A son? A daughter?
A runner? A dancer?
Whoever and whatever you see―just put out your fist and give yourself an "I am" BAM!
This jumping, jazzy, joyful picture book by the award-winning team of Walter Dean Myers and Christoper Myers celebrates every child, and every thing that a child can be.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2009
9 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
232 books1,183 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
January 19, 2010
Says the parent to the librarian, "I need something for my child to improve their self-esteem." Uh-huh. Fine. Self-esteem. That's the kind of topic that inspires the worst possible books for kids, you know. Cute forest animals who learn about sharing and small classroom dramas about "being yourself." If an author goes out there and says, "I'm going to write a book about self-esteem" they may find it near impossible to do well. Books of that sort have to come from someplace deep inside, or else they end up sounding like a novelization of a Barney the Dinosaur episode. So the next time a parent comes up to me and repeats that request, I'm going to be ready. My reference desk is situated a mere two and a half feet from the poetry shelves. I will look them in the eye, push my chair to the right, and pluck Looking Like Me by Walter Dean & Chris Myers out of the J811 Myers section. And if they start in with the "I don't know if I want poetry" nonsense, I shall explain that this is the best of the best. A combination of text and image so far and above the usual schlock that they simply have no choice. They must take it. And I will say this with the confidence that is born of knowing that you are 100% right.
"I looked in the mirror and what did I see? / A real handsome dude looking just like me." Two handsome dudes, father and son, come together to write a book of poetry about a kid who has all kinds of identities. He's a son and a brother. A poet and a runner. "I'm a city child. / I love the dizzy heights, / the concrete, the steel, / the bright neon lights." He's a dancer and a dreamer. This kid is all sorts of things. Set against Christopher Myers' eye-popping paper and photographic collages, we see how many people one person can be.
I don't actually know the complete story behind Looking Like Me. As near as I can figure, though, it was something like this: Under normal circumstances picture book poetry titles are written first, illustrated second. That's how Myers, father and son, did Harlem and Blues Journey and such. Looking Like Me was completely different. First, Chris Myers made the art for one project and Walter Dean Myers wrote the poem for another. Then some genius somewhere thought to put the two together and by gum, it worked! That's no mean feat. To find a way to make a picture of a three-headed dude wearing white earmuffs make sense in the context of a story that was written for an entirely different purpose takes equal amounts of skill and luck.
It's probably too late to claim that this is the first instance of fist bumping in a children's book. I'm gonna go out on a limb, though, and claim that it IS the first instance of fist-bumping in a children's work of poetry put out by a major publisher. That's hardly the biggest innovation the book's text supports, though. Walter Dean Myers is the kind of guy who basically exudes depth and meaning every time he breathes. Which is great, of course, but it's nice to see him doing something a little lighter here. The book feels happy. Bouncy even. The first line sets the tone, and everything after that is just jocular. "Grandma's rings and bangles gave such a noisy BAM! / They were really celebrating the kind of guy I am."
Now the art is an interesting combination of techniques. Flip to the publication page and not a word is breathed about Chris and his style. Here are a couple of things we do know. The cover is a mix of cut paper and an enlarged microscopic image. Recently Chris has been playing around with microscopes. He's blown up slides of things like tree bark, enlarged them, and the vibrant colors. Inside the book are photographs, physical objects, and cut paper silhouettes of varying colors that over and underlap one another. Faces exist with cut out eyes. Mouths put out long house-covered tongues or open to reveal the necks of other mouths with other necks. It could be nightmarish if placed with the right text, but here it's a gentle surreality. Walter takes away the dark elements, so that the book has a dreamlike rather than nightmarish quality to it.
And I like the font. Sorry. That's a relatively dull way to end a review of a book of this sort, but it's true. I like it. That and the words, colors, energy, tone, and message, of course. Little things like that. On the surface it's a book about loving who you are, but dig a little deeper and you'll find a visual stimulant and unapologetic shout of joy. This is a book that enjoys being a book. Read it with a smile on your face. You can bet plenty of kids will.
Ages 4-8.
"I looked in the mirror and what did I see? / A real handsome dude looking just like me." Two handsome dudes, father and son, come together to write a book of poetry about a kid who has all kinds of identities. He's a son and a brother. A poet and a runner. "I'm a city child. / I love the dizzy heights, / the concrete, the steel, / the bright neon lights." He's a dancer and a dreamer. This kid is all sorts of things. Set against Christopher Myers' eye-popping paper and photographic collages, we see how many people one person can be.
I don't actually know the complete story behind Looking Like Me. As near as I can figure, though, it was something like this: Under normal circumstances picture book poetry titles are written first, illustrated second. That's how Myers, father and son, did Harlem and Blues Journey and such. Looking Like Me was completely different. First, Chris Myers made the art for one project and Walter Dean Myers wrote the poem for another. Then some genius somewhere thought to put the two together and by gum, it worked! That's no mean feat. To find a way to make a picture of a three-headed dude wearing white earmuffs make sense in the context of a story that was written for an entirely different purpose takes equal amounts of skill and luck.
It's probably too late to claim that this is the first instance of fist bumping in a children's book. I'm gonna go out on a limb, though, and claim that it IS the first instance of fist-bumping in a children's work of poetry put out by a major publisher. That's hardly the biggest innovation the book's text supports, though. Walter Dean Myers is the kind of guy who basically exudes depth and meaning every time he breathes. Which is great, of course, but it's nice to see him doing something a little lighter here. The book feels happy. Bouncy even. The first line sets the tone, and everything after that is just jocular. "Grandma's rings and bangles gave such a noisy BAM! / They were really celebrating the kind of guy I am."
Now the art is an interesting combination of techniques. Flip to the publication page and not a word is breathed about Chris and his style. Here are a couple of things we do know. The cover is a mix of cut paper and an enlarged microscopic image. Recently Chris has been playing around with microscopes. He's blown up slides of things like tree bark, enlarged them, and the vibrant colors. Inside the book are photographs, physical objects, and cut paper silhouettes of varying colors that over and underlap one another. Faces exist with cut out eyes. Mouths put out long house-covered tongues or open to reveal the necks of other mouths with other necks. It could be nightmarish if placed with the right text, but here it's a gentle surreality. Walter takes away the dark elements, so that the book has a dreamlike rather than nightmarish quality to it.
And I like the font. Sorry. That's a relatively dull way to end a review of a book of this sort, but it's true. I like it. That and the words, colors, energy, tone, and message, of course. Little things like that. On the surface it's a book about loving who you are, but dig a little deeper and you'll find a visual stimulant and unapologetic shout of joy. This is a book that enjoys being a book. Read it with a smile on your face. You can bet plenty of kids will.
Ages 4-8.
June 15, 2012
My 2-year-old daughter calls this the "Give it a Bam" book; she and I both really enjoy it. My daughter bams my fist every time we read the repeated phrase "I put out my fist, (s)he gave it a bam". She loves the interactive fist bamming. She also loves the illustrations. They are done in a collage effect with photographs and cut-outs of African-American people in various bright colors. Some of the pictures could be viewed as disturbing, but they do not disturb my daughter; she seems to delight in the bright colors and the unique, creative images. She especially loves the cut-out of the three-headed person and the person who has eyes all over his torso. My 5-year-old son also enjoys this book.
The text is a very rhythmic lyrical poem that can pull you right into the life of a young, hip, Harlem man. Not being city people ourselves, I love the city flavor that the text and the illustrations provide. You can also feel the glow of this young man's self-pride as you read his self-affirming poem. Then he challenges the reader to create his/her own "I am, Jam" at the close of the book. This will be our go-to book for a self-confidence boost. This book is great for children in preschool and grade school.
School Library Journal Best Books: 2009
The text is a very rhythmic lyrical poem that can pull you right into the life of a young, hip, Harlem man. Not being city people ourselves, I love the city flavor that the text and the illustrations provide. You can also feel the glow of this young man's self-pride as you read his self-affirming poem. Then he challenges the reader to create his/her own "I am, Jam" at the close of the book. This will be our go-to book for a self-confidence boost. This book is great for children in preschool and grade school.
School Library Journal Best Books: 2009
November 8, 2017
I loved the style to this book. This story could be read almost as a rap or song and it very powerful. I think this is would be a great book for second- fifth grade only because it might be hard for younger children to understand the message but with teacher guidance I think it would be great! However, The illustrations are creative and imaginative. This would be a great story to have your students do a project or activity on who they are and what makes them the person that they are. It would be a great way to establish community in your classroom. Students would be able to get to know each other and tell each other things they think make them the person they are. Students could re-create their "I AM JAM". I LOVE this book because there are so many things teachers could do with this poem. I would highly recommend to any teacher who wants to work on classroom community and self-esteem!
March 21, 2012
I LOVE this picture book! One of the most exciting things to me is the way in which I found it: I was reading Sharon Creech’s wonderful book written in free verse, LOVE THAT DOG. The main character is a young boy who narrates his journey, led by his classroom teacher, into the world of poetry and the wonderful things it can mean in and add to his life. In the course of their poetry unit he is exposed to the poet Walter Dean Myers who quickly becomes his favorite after he reads Deans’ poem LOVE THAT BOY.
Reading Ms. Creech’s book spurred me to investigate Mr. Walter Dean Myers and I found that he is not only a poet, but has a vast body of work for young adult and middle grade readers, as well as this fantastic picture book.
LOOKING LIKE ME refers to each individual looking in the mirror and seeing all of the people they are and all of the peaope they can be. We are defined in terms of our relationships: mother, father, sister, brother, friend. We are defined by our likes and dislikes. We are defined by our talents.
The narrator of the book discovers not only can he create a list of the things that define him, but that he can discover things in himself of which he was unaware by listening to those around him.
For example, I might not realize I have a talent for drawing until someone I love and respect comments favorably on a drawing I have done. I may not realize that compassion defines me until a friend I have helped says a heartfelt thank you when I take time out of my day to help or comfort her.
The book is illustrated in magnificent collage style by Christopher Myers (the author’s son). It’s bold colors and shapes stand out from the page in a way that is accessible and recognizable to the reader.
Each time the narrator discovers a new characteristic about himself he gives the other person (including himself in the mirror) a fist bump. I often use this action to make the story interactive with my listeners, whether it is my own children or a full classroom.
I have used this as a read-aloud selection in 3rd and 4th grades. It is a magnificent discussion starter for all kinds of topics related to self-esteem and how we become and define ourselves. It lends itself as a great introduction to art activities using self-expression and collage technique. It can also be used to begin teaching brainstorming or interviewing techniques to be used in writing assignments later in the year.
It is a great conversation starter at home for self-esteem issues as well.
I highly recommend this picture book for both classroom and home libraries.
Reading Ms. Creech’s book spurred me to investigate Mr. Walter Dean Myers and I found that he is not only a poet, but has a vast body of work for young adult and middle grade readers, as well as this fantastic picture book.
LOOKING LIKE ME refers to each individual looking in the mirror and seeing all of the people they are and all of the peaope they can be. We are defined in terms of our relationships: mother, father, sister, brother, friend. We are defined by our likes and dislikes. We are defined by our talents.
The narrator of the book discovers not only can he create a list of the things that define him, but that he can discover things in himself of which he was unaware by listening to those around him.
For example, I might not realize I have a talent for drawing until someone I love and respect comments favorably on a drawing I have done. I may not realize that compassion defines me until a friend I have helped says a heartfelt thank you when I take time out of my day to help or comfort her.
The book is illustrated in magnificent collage style by Christopher Myers (the author’s son). It’s bold colors and shapes stand out from the page in a way that is accessible and recognizable to the reader.
Each time the narrator discovers a new characteristic about himself he gives the other person (including himself in the mirror) a fist bump. I often use this action to make the story interactive with my listeners, whether it is my own children or a full classroom.
I have used this as a read-aloud selection in 3rd and 4th grades. It is a magnificent discussion starter for all kinds of topics related to self-esteem and how we become and define ourselves. It lends itself as a great introduction to art activities using self-expression and collage technique. It can also be used to begin teaching brainstorming or interviewing techniques to be used in writing assignments later in the year.
It is a great conversation starter at home for self-esteem issues as well.
I highly recommend this picture book for both classroom and home libraries.
November 14, 2009
There's nothing like starting out on a strong, affirming foot. Let's just put it out there, son - I am a good looking guy. And things are just going to get better from there. My sister comes along and tells me I am a brother. My teacher calls me a writer. I look in the mirror and call myself a talker. Fist bumps all around.
This big bold boy-centric anthem is illustrated with strong, bright-colored collage images - wild animals, city buildings, and images from non-Western culture underlay graphic silhouettes of young men in motion, implying the threads of civilized and wild culture that weave together to make a boy. Extra fist bump to my boy Christopher for using a picture of the gorilla diorama at the American Museum of Natural History. That silverback gets around.
This is exactly the read-aloud for the strongest, most confident read-aloud-er you know. My friend Kate, for example. You need the rhythm and flow of a Nikki Giovanni or a Jacqueline Woodson to read this book aloud. But you need nothing but fifteen minutes and an open mind to read it to yourself.
One cautious note: I held out my fist for a bump with a little boy not too long ago, and, not hip to the procedure, the kid hauled off and punched my fist as hard as he could. Didn't hurt me much, but ne nearly broke his fingers on my rings. So, if you're going to do the fist bumps along with Walter Dean and Christopher, make sure everybody knows - a real man is gentle.
More like this on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com
This big bold boy-centric anthem is illustrated with strong, bright-colored collage images - wild animals, city buildings, and images from non-Western culture underlay graphic silhouettes of young men in motion, implying the threads of civilized and wild culture that weave together to make a boy. Extra fist bump to my boy Christopher for using a picture of the gorilla diorama at the American Museum of Natural History. That silverback gets around.
This is exactly the read-aloud for the strongest, most confident read-aloud-er you know. My friend Kate, for example. You need the rhythm and flow of a Nikki Giovanni or a Jacqueline Woodson to read this book aloud. But you need nothing but fifteen minutes and an open mind to read it to yourself.
One cautious note: I held out my fist for a bump with a little boy not too long ago, and, not hip to the procedure, the kid hauled off and punched my fist as hard as he could. Didn't hurt me much, but ne nearly broke his fingers on my rings. So, if you're going to do the fist bumps along with Walter Dean and Christopher, make sure everybody knows - a real man is gentle.
More like this on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com
August 22, 2017
No one is ever a simple, single-definition person, and this book make a point to describe some of the many things that can make up who you are. Child, dancer, writer, sibling, runner, dreamer. And so many other things. Such an important message in a day where one terrible event can lead to the media labeling someone as just a "Black man," rather than all the things they are.
Race isn't really brought up in this book, but Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers both focus in their other works on the Black experience, and there's plenty in this book to identify the narrator as Black. However, that's not one of this definitions. And that is so important. Because the Myers's show that his race ISN'T the first detail, or even in the top ten details. It's not denied, but there are so many other things about the narrator that the narrator celebrates.
This is a great intro to a unit on exploring your self. Read this to your class, and then have your students list all the things that make up who they are. It's less suited to a library story time, as there isn't much call for homework after one of those. And for the household, I think it's a good fit for most homes, since it really can give your child more confidence, but if you're skeptical, your local library should hold a copy for a trial run.
Race isn't really brought up in this book, but Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers both focus in their other works on the Black experience, and there's plenty in this book to identify the narrator as Black. However, that's not one of this definitions. And that is so important. Because the Myers's show that his race ISN'T the first detail, or even in the top ten details. It's not denied, but there are so many other things about the narrator that the narrator celebrates.
This is a great intro to a unit on exploring your self. Read this to your class, and then have your students list all the things that make up who they are. It's less suited to a library story time, as there isn't much call for homework after one of those. And for the household, I think it's a good fit for most homes, since it really can give your child more confidence, but if you're skeptical, your local library should hold a copy for a trial run.
October 24, 2017
Jeremy is more than just a boy, he's a son, a brother, an artist, a runner, and a writer. Jeremy fills so many roles and has several things that make up his identity. This book promotes a positive self image for students who may be struggling with a good self image. I would you use this book as a read aloud to my future students on the beginning of the school year to remind them how special and valuable they really are. While the illustrations don't go with the plot of the story, it is still beautiful and full of life. The illustrations that fill book show birds in the background, a set of heads traveling in a circle, a human fugure in a boxing ring. These illustrations that I just mentioned aren't all of the illustrations but area few of them. The front cover of the book has a green and red background with a purple child looking up towards the title of the book, which gives a sense to the reader, who the main character of the book is. The back of the book shows a flashlight shining on a blue human being which doesn't relate to the book at all, but is still neat.
December 14, 2018
This book has great rhythm, and moves along at a nice pace. The text is highly descriptive and even beautiful at times. Walter Dean Myers brings his unique writing touch to the story, and Christopher Myers's illustrations are intriguing.
Looking Like Me doesn't have a straightforward plot, but its primary focus is the rhythm and style of the writing, celebrating the diversity within the human community without emphasizing particular characters. I would give this book one and a half stars.
Looking Like Me doesn't have a straightforward plot, but its primary focus is the rhythm and style of the writing, celebrating the diversity within the human community without emphasizing particular characters. I would give this book one and a half stars.
May 4, 2018
I liked this book because its message is to be who you are and no one can tell you how many things you can be. I do not like the book because the illustrations are too much, I feel like they are all over the place and I am not sure if it will keep children interested. It might be a good book for older children maybe 2nd to 3rd graders.
October 8, 2018
Cute Read
April 19, 2020
Looking Like Me is a poetry book that's great for 3rd grade students. This book tells the story of how we are seen differently by those around us. Some people may see you as a brother/sister while others may see you as a friend or an athlete. We are more than what one person defines us as. Jeremy, the boy whom this poem is about, is a brother, son, writer, dancer, artist, runner, and much more. He is not defined by just one characteristic or talent, rather he is a combination of many characteristics. Jeremy quickly learns that who he is exceeds beyond his own ideas as he discovers what the people in his life see him as. He is seen differently by those around him thus allowing him to grow in his understanding of just who he is as an individual.
I would use this book in my classroom to help my students understand just who they are and to help them be confident in that. I would have my students make a list who they are in the eyes of not only themselves but also in the eyes of those in their lives. The students can add to the lists of their peers by sharing about how they see their classmates as well. I think it's important that students know who they are as an individual and to be confident in being themselves. I could also use this book to teach students about the characteristics of poetry. I think having students point out the patterns (repetition) they notice in this book during the read aloud will aid students in their understanding of poetry. I would have my students then write their own poem to describe who they are.
Looking Like Me was a WOW book for me because of the vibrant illustrations throughout the book. The pictures really made the story come to life! I find poetry to be very interesting as writers are able to tell a story using rhyming or rhythmic patterns. I really liked how this book brought together the different perspectives of who one person can be. I think this book would be great to read with students as it highlights the importance of being confident in the many components that make us who we are.
I would use this book in my classroom to help my students understand just who they are and to help them be confident in that. I would have my students make a list who they are in the eyes of not only themselves but also in the eyes of those in their lives. The students can add to the lists of their peers by sharing about how they see their classmates as well. I think it's important that students know who they are as an individual and to be confident in being themselves. I could also use this book to teach students about the characteristics of poetry. I think having students point out the patterns (repetition) they notice in this book during the read aloud will aid students in their understanding of poetry. I would have my students then write their own poem to describe who they are.
Looking Like Me was a WOW book for me because of the vibrant illustrations throughout the book. The pictures really made the story come to life! I find poetry to be very interesting as writers are able to tell a story using rhyming or rhythmic patterns. I really liked how this book brought together the different perspectives of who one person can be. I think this book would be great to read with students as it highlights the importance of being confident in the many components that make us who we are.
April 21, 2019
"Looking Like Me" by Walter Dean Myers is a fun picture book in verse that I would use in my third through fifth grade classrooms, especially third. This book celebrates the identities that make each child an individual, helping students develop pride for who they are! It is written from the perspective of a young African American boy named Jeremy, which helps students connect more to the story as they may share some of the same identities (son, brother, etc.) with Jeremy. This is a WOW book for me because I believe it shares an important message through an engaging and realistic way. This book can help boost students' self-esteem and pride. Unlike many other books with similar messages, it focuses on a child rather than personifying an animal. I also like that this book includes a repeated phrase that students can interact with by fist bumping each time they hear the phrase "give it a bam". I think this is something that students would think is fun to do, increasing their attentiveness while listening to this book.
One way I could use this book in my future classroom is as a read aloud to promote self-esteem allow students to explore their own identities. After reading this book aloud to my students, I would start a class discussion about identities and how each of our identities contributes to who we are. After the discussion, I would also have my students compile a list of their identities. I would help my students recognize that they have similarities with their classmates, but they are also unique and special in their own way(s). I want my students to be confident in their identities and who they are because I believe that self-awareness and self-esteem goes a long way in the classroom and in life!
Another way I could use "Looking Like Me" in my future classroom is as a read aloud to introduce poetry and verse. After listening to me read this book, I want to encourage my students to recognize and/or identify the characteristics of the text as it relates to poetry and verse. Poetry and verse are one type of text that students may be more unfamiliar with, but students should get exposure to these texts just like other genres. I also want my students to understand that this genre can tell stories and convey messages, like the other genres of texts they are familiar with. After reading this text aloud to my students, I could have them write their own short poems or verses about their identities.
I read this book as an e-text.
One way I could use this book in my future classroom is as a read aloud to promote self-esteem allow students to explore their own identities. After reading this book aloud to my students, I would start a class discussion about identities and how each of our identities contributes to who we are. After the discussion, I would also have my students compile a list of their identities. I would help my students recognize that they have similarities with their classmates, but they are also unique and special in their own way(s). I want my students to be confident in their identities and who they are because I believe that self-awareness and self-esteem goes a long way in the classroom and in life!
Another way I could use "Looking Like Me" in my future classroom is as a read aloud to introduce poetry and verse. After listening to me read this book, I want to encourage my students to recognize and/or identify the characteristics of the text as it relates to poetry and verse. Poetry and verse are one type of text that students may be more unfamiliar with, but students should get exposure to these texts just like other genres. I also want my students to understand that this genre can tell stories and convey messages, like the other genres of texts they are familiar with. After reading this text aloud to my students, I could have them write their own short poems or verses about their identities.
I read this book as an e-text.
October 31, 2023
Wow! What a fun and interesting poem to read.
In this book, a young boy named Jeremy talks to many people in his community and adds titles such as brother, writer, and dancer to his "I am" list. One of the major themes of this book is identity because Jeremy notices he has many characteristics that make him the person he is. The main genre of this book is poetry because it has a consistent flow and uses poetry language (has a jazzy sound and rhymes). If I were going to read this book to children, I could teach them that they can be whatever they want to be and they can be multiple things at once. This book is a WOW book for me because the illustrations combined with the jazzy tone remind me of artwork that is culturally significant to my identity as a Black person. My love for this book is amplified because of the messages to appreciate all parts of your identity.
A few literary devices the author included in this book were the repetition of the phrase "I gave it a bam," which contributed to the rhythm of the book and the usage of similes. For example, in the sentence "I look like a crowd," Jeremy doesn't actually look like many people, but all of his identities are combined into one person. I consider this book to be an anti-bias book because the author encourages the reader to celebrate their identity, regardless of what that may be.
In this book, a young boy named Jeremy talks to many people in his community and adds titles such as brother, writer, and dancer to his "I am" list. One of the major themes of this book is identity because Jeremy notices he has many characteristics that make him the person he is. The main genre of this book is poetry because it has a consistent flow and uses poetry language (has a jazzy sound and rhymes). If I were going to read this book to children, I could teach them that they can be whatever they want to be and they can be multiple things at once. This book is a WOW book for me because the illustrations combined with the jazzy tone remind me of artwork that is culturally significant to my identity as a Black person. My love for this book is amplified because of the messages to appreciate all parts of your identity.
A few literary devices the author included in this book were the repetition of the phrase "I gave it a bam," which contributed to the rhythm of the book and the usage of similes. For example, in the sentence "I look like a crowd," Jeremy doesn't actually look like many people, but all of his identities are combined into one person. I consider this book to be an anti-bias book because the author encourages the reader to celebrate their identity, regardless of what that may be.
June 16, 2021
The pattern of this story is easy to follow as the character is finding that he is a little piece of each person that he knows. He is a product of his environment. The pictures are bright and colorful. They are cut out and abstract as well as concrete. This message is so important for those that do not know how they fit into the world around them. Each piece of someone important to us plays a big role in who we are!
June 15, 2021
A beautiful book asking us to identify ourselves by what we are, not by how we look.
January 25, 2023
I loved this book it really helps put different labels on yourself other then what one can see from just looking at you.
January 19, 2023
I loved this book! The illustrations were captivating and the rhyming made it such a fun read. It was sophisticated yet made me feel like I was listening to the story being told from a young boys perspective.
January 30, 2021
Bam!
Be your best son, daughter, poet, writer, whoever! Fist pump!
Fun poetry, decoupage artwork and self-image positivity!
Be your best son, daughter, poet, writer, whoever! Fist pump!
Fun poetry, decoupage artwork and self-image positivity!
January 19, 2023
I really liked this book because I think it would be especially fun to do with children because of the interactive piece to it with the "bam"
January 19, 2023
The book offered a variety of identifications and characteristics.
January 19, 2023
I think this book really portrays the character finding who they are by describing different traits pertaining to them.
January 19, 2023
Appreciated the illustrations!
January 22, 2023
I think the book was a little hard for my eyes but I think it was very cute and made you identify who you are and the words you use to describe who you are.
November 3, 2019
Love the message of the book in building self-esteem and can see it being used in classrooms with "I Am" poems, but some of the flow skipped a bit and the illustration style was visually jarring to me.
November 26, 2018
This book is fabolous.
November 24, 2018
Another wonderful book to read in the K-3 classroom, perhaps in the beginning of the year before students create their student portraits or I am statements. Bravo!
October 30, 2012
The main idea of Looking Like Me By: Walter Dean Myers, is about a kid with all kinds of identities. The book shows that he is a brother, son, poet and a runner. For example, "I'm a city child. I love the dizzy heights, the concrete, the steel, the bright neon lights." The book does a great job at describing the different identities with rhyming words! The main character is named Jeremy and other characters include his sister, father, teacher, and mom. Throughout the story these characters help Jeremy add different roles and identities that make him who he is. This book belongs to Fiction and Individuality. The fictitious story of a child who is a city boy living in Harlem and adds many roles to his "I AM LIST." Throughout the book this rhythmic self esteem builder shows children all the individual roles and identities that make everyone unique.
As a teacher, this would be a great project for the beginning of the year! I would use this text to help compile a book for each individual child. At first, they can write down there own "I Am" list. Afterwards they can get construction paper and either draw or cut out things from a magazine that describe the different identities and roles they wrote down. At the end we can laminate and bind the books together for each student to have! The students can really interact and relate to the story with this project. I believe by seeing the photographic collages and unique pictures, this will really engage and motivate the students to do their own collages. Also, the word choice is really captivating and will also reel in the students. For example, it says, "I'm a writer, spinning dramas, that dance across the stage." The words along with the picture will really keep the children's focus.
Walter Dean Myers is a writer, a photography collector, a flute player, a cat owner, a Harlem native, a former basketball player, a husband, and a father. His Harlem background definitely shows throughout his illustrations in the text. The author displays his culture and many identities by showing jazz bands, harlem traditions, places in Harlem, and connects them with many identities similar to himself. This relates to Individuality by showing all the various identities that someone may have. It really displays the general message that everyone is a me, myself and I and someone very unique and special. Overall, the positive words, colors, confident energy, and tone is great! Great book to teach about unique roles and how that makes a person special!
As a teacher, this would be a great project for the beginning of the year! I would use this text to help compile a book for each individual child. At first, they can write down there own "I Am" list. Afterwards they can get construction paper and either draw or cut out things from a magazine that describe the different identities and roles they wrote down. At the end we can laminate and bind the books together for each student to have! The students can really interact and relate to the story with this project. I believe by seeing the photographic collages and unique pictures, this will really engage and motivate the students to do their own collages. Also, the word choice is really captivating and will also reel in the students. For example, it says, "I'm a writer, spinning dramas, that dance across the stage." The words along with the picture will really keep the children's focus.
Walter Dean Myers is a writer, a photography collector, a flute player, a cat owner, a Harlem native, a former basketball player, a husband, and a father. His Harlem background definitely shows throughout his illustrations in the text. The author displays his culture and many identities by showing jazz bands, harlem traditions, places in Harlem, and connects them with many identities similar to himself. This relates to Individuality by showing all the various identities that someone may have. It really displays the general message that everyone is a me, myself and I and someone very unique and special. Overall, the positive words, colors, confident energy, and tone is great! Great book to teach about unique roles and how that makes a person special!
November 13, 2012
I read this book for my free choice picture book recommended off of the Goodreads list.
Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers is written in poetry. It is about a boy named Jeremy who spends time finding out who he is. With the help of family and friends he realizes he has many layers to him. He is a son, a brother, a dancer, a runner, a writer, a city boy, and artist, etc. The use of poetry was great for young readers because it brings about a beat that almost sounds lyrical. For example: "I looked in the mirror and what did I see? A real handsome dude looking just like me." The use of rhyme here is also beneficial for young readers because it helps them guess what could be the next word, without having to decode the whole word. I think any person could enjoy hearing this story, but I would say the readability level is around 1st-3rd grade because the simple use of word choice, and the limited use of words on a page. Young boys may appreciate this book because it uses words that they could relate to that they may use in everyday life such as: dude, and putting out a fist to give it a bam. The illustrations included in this book were very complex and quite interesting. It looks like Christopher Myers used the collage technique. Each page is layered with quite a few scenes that are hard to connect with one and other. For example on the front page, there is a simple drawing of a boy seeing a reflection, a possible photo of an amphibian eye, and a photo of a horse and carriage. It seems obvious that the boy and his reflection go with the story, but it is hard to pin point why the other pictures are included. My guess was that they were to symbolize the complexity of the boy in the story. I think this would be a great mentor book to use to get students writing about themselves, and the author even recommends doing that at the back of the book. I actually did this with my students, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Some used the predetermined words "I am", and some put more creativity into it and chose the own words.
Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers is written in poetry. It is about a boy named Jeremy who spends time finding out who he is. With the help of family and friends he realizes he has many layers to him. He is a son, a brother, a dancer, a runner, a writer, a city boy, and artist, etc. The use of poetry was great for young readers because it brings about a beat that almost sounds lyrical. For example: "I looked in the mirror and what did I see? A real handsome dude looking just like me." The use of rhyme here is also beneficial for young readers because it helps them guess what could be the next word, without having to decode the whole word. I think any person could enjoy hearing this story, but I would say the readability level is around 1st-3rd grade because the simple use of word choice, and the limited use of words on a page. Young boys may appreciate this book because it uses words that they could relate to that they may use in everyday life such as: dude, and putting out a fist to give it a bam. The illustrations included in this book were very complex and quite interesting. It looks like Christopher Myers used the collage technique. Each page is layered with quite a few scenes that are hard to connect with one and other. For example on the front page, there is a simple drawing of a boy seeing a reflection, a possible photo of an amphibian eye, and a photo of a horse and carriage. It seems obvious that the boy and his reflection go with the story, but it is hard to pin point why the other pictures are included. My guess was that they were to symbolize the complexity of the boy in the story. I think this would be a great mentor book to use to get students writing about themselves, and the author even recommends doing that at the back of the book. I actually did this with my students, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Some used the predetermined words "I am", and some put more creativity into it and chose the own words.
October 13, 2012
The main idea of "Looking Like Me" is to show a child, that as an individual, they can be many different things; a brother, a son, an artist, a runner. The main character, Jeremy, looks in the mirror to see just himself, yet after passing his sister, grandmother, teacher, and many others he realized he was much more than just 'Jeremy.' The genre of this text, by Walter Dean Myers, is fiction... more importantly named domestic fiction in the 1800's.
As a literacy teacher I would use this story to show my students how they may be many different things in life, all of which are very important and make them their own individual. I would create an activity for the children to go home and make their own "I Am" list by asking their family members, or peers, who they are to them. I would also include "put out your fist and give it a BAM!" for my students in class as a way of praise.
Walter Dean Myers grew up in Harlem, and witnessed the Harlem Renaissance. As a matter of fact, one of his major pieces of writing was a poem, "Harlem." You can sense this from his illustrations in his writing, which to me, look to evolve from city pictures and graffiti. The illustrations of people in "Looking Like Me" resemble African Americans, and I believe this is a wonderful book to have in the classroom to demonstrate different races and cultures also. By using unique and diverse pictures throughout the book, Myers grasp the attention of the children very well, allowing them to tune in and understand the concept of individualism in the book.
As a literacy teacher I would use this story to show my students how they may be many different things in life, all of which are very important and make them their own individual. I would create an activity for the children to go home and make their own "I Am" list by asking their family members, or peers, who they are to them. I would also include "put out your fist and give it a BAM!" for my students in class as a way of praise.
Walter Dean Myers grew up in Harlem, and witnessed the Harlem Renaissance. As a matter of fact, one of his major pieces of writing was a poem, "Harlem." You can sense this from his illustrations in his writing, which to me, look to evolve from city pictures and graffiti. The illustrations of people in "Looking Like Me" resemble African Americans, and I believe this is a wonderful book to have in the classroom to demonstrate different races and cultures also. By using unique and diverse pictures throughout the book, Myers grasp the attention of the children very well, allowing them to tune in and understand the concept of individualism in the book.
December 29, 2014
As Jeremy adds to his long list of words that describe him (whether a little brother, a son, a writer, runner, dreamer or dancer") and fist bumps his family, teachers, and friends with a "BAM," it's hard not to smile at this empowering manifesto of a young boy who is celebrating all that he is and all that he does. From the title, I thought that race would be brought in explicitly, as "looking" suggests defining oneself by his or her appearance, but Jeremy's (nor the author or illustrator's) race is not mentioned at all - the closest definition we get is him defining himself by the region where he lives (Harlem). This omission does not keep this lovely book from being wise and a good choice for children of all backgrounds.
Christopher Myers' collages are bold and unusual (as usual). In placing rainbow colored silhouettes against a background of personal photographs, Eastern art, and artwork inspired by the natural world, Myers provides a dizzying array of images that fit the vibe of the text. This work is not my favorite in terms of artwork, but it does fit well and I can appreciate his technique.
The book ends by challenging the reader to define his or her self worth as well: "Why don't you find a mirror and some friends along the way? Think of all the things you do and all the things they say. Make a long list if you want to - have yourself an "I am" jam. Then give yourself a great big smile and your fist a great big BAM!"
What a wonderful way for child (and adult) readers to celebrate their lives.
Christopher Myers' collages are bold and unusual (as usual). In placing rainbow colored silhouettes against a background of personal photographs, Eastern art, and artwork inspired by the natural world, Myers provides a dizzying array of images that fit the vibe of the text. This work is not my favorite in terms of artwork, but it does fit well and I can appreciate his technique.
The book ends by challenging the reader to define his or her self worth as well: "Why don't you find a mirror and some friends along the way? Think of all the things you do and all the things they say. Make a long list if you want to - have yourself an "I am" jam. Then give yourself a great big smile and your fist a great big BAM!"
What a wonderful way for child (and adult) readers to celebrate their lives.
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