Can I Build Another Me?

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

Can I Build Another Me

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Family, Japanese Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2014

About the author

Associated Names:
* ヨシタケ シンスケ (Japanese)
* Shinsuke Yoshitake (English)
* 吉竹伸介 (Chinese)
* 요시타케 신스케 (Korean)
* ชินสุเกะ โยชิทาเกะ (Thai)

Shinsuke Yoshitake is the author-illustrator of many award-winning picture books, including New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year There Must Be More Than That!, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year The Boring Book, I Can Be Anything, I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band, and I Can Explain. His books have been translated into more than 10 languages. He lives in Japan.

Reviews

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

یه تمرین ذهنی فلسفی عالی برای کودکان. یوشیتاکه استاد به چالش کشیدن ذهن با مفاهیم ساده و دم دستیه.

[Hossein · Rating 5 out of 5]

چقدر حالم رو خوب كرد!
اي كاش ميتونستم بيشتر از 5 ستاره بدم!

[Nikta Khoraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

چقدر دوست‌داشتنی و عزیز بود این کتاب.
همراه خندیدن و لذت بردن، درباره‌ی خودم و هویتم فکر کردم و سوال‌های زیادی برایم پیش آمد.
چه ویژگی‌هایی تو را "تو" می‌کند؟
در نظران دیگران چه کسی هستی؟
چگونه خودت را تعریف میکنی؟
چه چیزهایی را دوست داری و از چه چیزهایی خوشت نمی‌آید؟
آیا کسی می‌تواند شبیه تو باشد؟
در این داستان کوین سعی می‌کند خودش را برای رباتی که قرار است جای او باشد، توضیح دهد.

[Payam Ebrahimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

به‌نظرم کتاب‌های شینسوکه یوشیتاکه باید توی کتابخونه‌ی تمام خونه‌ها باشه. این کتاب هم مثل کتاب دیگه‌ی این مجموعه (شاید سیب باشد) به خلاقیت، تخیل، پرسش‌گری و تفکر در کودک کمک می‌کنه و باعث می‌شه نگاه کودک به زندگی و اطرافش نگاه عمیق‌تری بشه. در عین حال که بسیار جذاب و شیرین پیش می‌ره و مخاطب از خوندنش کِیف می‌کنه.

[Samin Anvari · Rating 5 out of 5]

چقدررر زیبا بود این کتاب.
و چقدر خندیدم با تصویر پردازی هاش...

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book but it took a second reading to want to read it. With this interesting transition occurring at the moment between picture books, non-fiction and graphic novels this fusion text was a surprise in terms of format but once I got used to it I understood that I had in my hands a really special book indeed.
Yoshitake's book is a wonderful reflection on what it is to be the only you in the world but not done in the painfully schmalzy way that some early reader books do.
The story begins with the child wanting to find a robot to take over his place in life, the endpapers hinting that he may be fed up and not having anyone that gets him.
In order to understand his role, the robot asks a series of questions about the boy in order to replicate.
In doing so, we get a wonderful, ingenious insight into how his mind works, the people and things that matter to him and the things that can get him down.
None of this is shoved down your throat and there is definitely some digging and duck questioning that could happen.
I love this book because it's original in its presentation and the message about the fact that we should embrace our individuality - warts and all, is a good thing indeed

[Katie Mote · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about Kevin wanting a robot to be him so that the robot could do the things that he didn't want to do. However before the robot could pretend to be Kevin, Kevin needed to tell the robot all about him. And the more he told him, the more he realised there was more to tell him. At first he just thought he was an ordinary boy like everyone else, but soon he realised that what made him him made him special. That there is no one else quite like him. He is unique and wonderful and there are so many different parts to him. It was a joy to follow along on Kevins adventure as he realised just how interesting and exciting he was. Therefore I think this would be a lovely book to read with children so that they too can see how different, and special, and unique they are. And how there is no one quite like them and therefore they are important.

[Mr Bramley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful little book about individuality, how we are, how we grow, and the other people around us.

The book has plenty of opportunities for classroom discussion and different images that could be used in activities to talk about how children see themselves.

[Mona Jalalieh · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب فوق العاده ای است برای خواندن و صحبت کردن در مورد تک تک عکسها و جمله ها با بچه ها.
من با بچه های کلاس دوم تا چهارم این کتاب را خواندم و مکالمات هیجان انگیزی بین ما شکل گرفت و جلسه های کتابخوانی فوق العاده ای داشتیم.🌸

[Alireza Shabani · Rating 5 out of 5]

گوگولی و باحال بود. بعضی از صفحه‌هاشو خیلی دوست داشتم. اگه رمان بود براتون مینوشتم ولی همراه تصویر پردازیش جالبتره، ایشالله خودتون بخونید و بفهمید :)

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyous, a blast; also, a work of great humanity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJM7B...

[Jo Birt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant book about a boy who buys a robot and tries to get the robot to be exactly like him. He finds this more difficult than he first thought as he has to think about himself and how he would describe himself as a person. As well as just describing his looks he has to think about his personality and how other people think of him. I loved the comment about the grandma and that everyone can decorate themselves as they like and it's okay to be different. However, I did think there were quite a few negative comments from other people about him which I feel could have been turned into more positive aspects of his personality.

[حسن صنوبری · Rating 3 out of 5]

تا اینجا دو کتاب از جناب شینسوکه یوشیتاکه خواندم هر دو خوب و قابل تامل بودند
هم اندیشه داشتند هم با شگردهای تصویری و نیز قلم طنز نویسنده، کتاب کاملا برای کودکان مناسب سازی شده
فقط یک نکته ظریفی هست و در این جلد دومی بیشتر هم بود
نکته ای که با توجه به رویکرد «فلسفه برای کودکان»ِ این مجموعه کتاب، مهمتر هم میشود
آنهم اینکه این کودک کجایی است؟
کودک امریکایی اروپایی است کاملا، در حالیکه نویسنده ژاپنی است، و در حالیکه ما میخواهیم در این کتاب تفکر و تفلسف را یاد بدهیم و دوباره افتاده ایم در کلیشه های نژادی که مانع تفکر و خودشناسی اند
اتفاقا موضوع جلد دوم یعنی همین کتاب هم خودشناسی است. خب برادر یوشیتاکه عزیز، این چه خودشناسی یاددادنی است که با ازخودبیگانگی شروع میشود!؟

[Xosé M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bastante chulo este cuento sobre la identidad. De repente es una versión algo inesperada de Doraemon. Uno no solo es sí mismo si no que además tiene que hacerse cargo de ello por muchos otros, robots o no, que haya.

¿Existe algo así como una escuela o tendencia en la ilustración japonesa actual donde la línea clarísima no aplana lo didáctico si no que lo multiplica? El dibujo sencillísimo de Yoshitake se emparenta con el rakugaki de Bunpei Yorifuji a la hora de recordarnos aquella lección de que menos es más.

Hay un juego finísimo en esta narración que parece que va de una cosa (la responsabilidad) para luego parecer que va de otra (la identidad) y que termina con un chiste tontorrón acerca de la imposibilidad de resolver ambas cuestiones y es que una madre siempre sabe más.

A ver si al sobrino al que se lo regalé le gusta por lo menos la mitad que a mí.

[Eleanor Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous and meaningful read following a boy who is bored and wants to have some fun. He buys a robot and gets the robot to become him, meaning he has to become aware of himself and what he does, things around him and the way people perceive him. Paired with hilarious one-liner thoughts and a celebration of individuality this book is lovely for any child to read.

[Rory Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous and light hearted story about a little boy reflecting on his individualities in order to build a robot just like him to do all his chores!
A really useful story that celebrates our individualities, however I would have loved for it to have ended with the young boy deciding not to need the robot having discovered how unique and special he is!

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that shows how there is only one you. You'll never be able to be someone else or vice versa. You are you. You decide who you are.

[Ham ‍J.Sohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب برای این که خودشناسی رو فعال کنه عالیه.
چقدر فکر شده و خوب نوشته شده.

[Soheil Yasaei · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب باعث شد تا در کنار موسیقی‌هایی که دوست دارم در آینده برای بچه‌هام پلی کنم تصمیم بگیرم لیستی از کتاب‌هایی داشته باشم تا پیشنهاد بدم بهشون بخونن.
بعد از مدت‌ها تونستم با سهیل کوچولویی که خیلی غمگینه درونم و توجه نمیکنم بهش ارتباط برقرار کنم.

[Rahman Rasyidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's simple but deep. Love all the illustration. Enjoyable for all ages I think, but I am sure that adults might read this book a bit differently :)

In the end, the question that we often try to answer would be "what makes you, you?". Curious to see how it's described in the book? Then check it out! ;)

[Anna Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're tired. There's too much work, too many chores and one day you wish you could get away from being you for a bit. That's what Kevin or Kenta (in the Japanese version) feels. Except he's brilliant and he actually goes and buys and robot to take his place. Thing is, it's a cheap robot that needs to be "trained" and so he has to tell it all about himself and his life to aid the deception. This opens the story to allow for a book about self-exploration and the most interesting way, a way that Yoshitake Shinsuke only can show you. I absolutely adore this book.

[Melika Khoshnezhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

آخ که چقدر جادویی بود این کتاب. خیلی خوشحال می‌شم که می‌بینم مفاهیم انقدرعمیق و پیچیده‌ی فلسفی در یه کتاب کودک با واژه‌های ساده و تصویرسازی‌های شگفت‌انگیز می‌تونن نه تنها بیان شن، بلکه خواننده رو به چالش بکشن و واقعاً به فکر وادارش کنن. توی این کتاب کوتاه دوست‌داشتنی مسئله‌ی هویت و این‌همانی شخصی مطرح می‌شه. کوین که حوصله‌ی انجام دادن تکالیفش رو نداره، تصمیم می‌گیره رباتی بخره که تبدیل بشه به خودِ کوین و به جای او تکالیفش رو انجام بده. فقط کافیه بتونه به رباتش توضیح بده که کوین بودن چطور چیزیه.

[Schahin · Rating 5 out of 5]

وقتی این کتاب رو میخوندم سعی میکردم که بتونم خودم رو برای یک ربات خیالی تعریف کنم. که چه ویژگی های دارم و چه دیدگاهی و چه کارهایی جز عادت های من هستند.
اما راستش نتونستم. خیلی جالبه که کتابی کوچک با تصویرهای هوشمندانه و ساده به ما میفهمونه‌ که چطور خودمون رو نمی‌شناسیم.
داستان عالی بود.تصویرگری یوشی تکه هم شاهکاره.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy, worn out by "doing things (he) didn't want to do. Homework, tidying up, helping around the house..." gets the idea to buy a robot to do all those things for him.

Illustrated in dark brown cartoon-style, vignettes and panels, with a color palette limited to golden yello, green, and brown, each image is witty, cute, and full of humanity.

As the boy and robot walk home together, the boy explains his plan, and the robot quizzes him on how to pretend to be him, giving the boy (and the reader) the opportunity to examine all the aspects of himself that make him unique.

The pages are conveniently labeled by category of descriptions, including;
Facts about me
My face and body
Likes and dislikes
Things I can and can't do
Growing up (developing skills & capacities)
Made by mum and dad (ancestors)
Traces of me (junk he leaves in his wake)
Human machine (ex: "My hair gets longer, so I'm a hair-growing machine.")
Ideas of me (from other people)
Places to go
Things only I know

By the time he's answered all the robot's questions and described every aspect of himself, he is impressed with how amazing he is, and how unique. A one-page gag at the end adds a quirky smile to the package, and ties it up nicely.

I think young readers (maybe ages 5 to 9?) would get a kick out of this, and be able to relate to the main character's ruminations, expressions, and descriptions. While it may not be as poignant as What Happens Next?, it is thought-provoking and emotionally resonant in its own way.

[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I Build Another Me? is one of those so well written and profound picture books that dare to explore big, philosophical concepts in such a hilarious and inventive way, that when you finish reading it, notions like existentialism, individuality, selfhood or life experience are already familiar.

A few months ago I read Yoshitake’s It Might Be An Apple, a beautiful piece on perception and first impressions and now I am happy to have read Can I Build Another Me?, as Yoshitake’s reflection on individualism and the importance of building strong selves is a delight.

Kevin, a little boy fed up with doing things he didn’t want to do, like homework and daily chores, decides to spend all his pocket money on a robot that he intends to turn into a clone of himself.

"From now on, you’re going to be the new me!"

The robot agrees but to build up his new identity, he needs to know all about Kevin. The boy lists everything that comes to his mind, from details about his family and particular features of his body, to many of the things he likes and dislikes.

Soon, Kevin realizes that he is the embodiment of all his younger selves and although he was made by two parents, he created his own history and developed his particular characteristics. “I leave traces of me”, Kevin admits, thinking of how his parents identify his mess or how his peers recognize his belongings.

See full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...

[Albus Elown · Rating 5 out of 5]

ESE ROBOT SOY YO
AUTOR: SHINSUKE YOSHITAKE
EDITORIAL: ZORRO ROJO
PAGINAS: 32
TRADUCCION: EUGENIO GARCÍA MUNI, Y ALICIA JIMÉNEZ DE DIOS.

De una manera tierna, este libro de niños, nos acerca a conocernos a nosotros mismos. La trama está protagonizada por Kenta, un niño que está harto de las responsabilidades y que su mejor opción será comprar un robot con el cual, este lo pueda sustituir en sus labores dentro del hogar.

Cuando el niño, lo compra, el robot y el conversan sobre la principal tarea que debe hacer, que es que el robot sea el niño, el robot ahí le cuestiona sobre como debe ser, a lo que el niño inocentemente le da una lista de cosas que ha hecho y como es. A lo largo del camino el robot le cuestiona sobre más aspectos , lo que hace que Kenta, analice su vida y como va cambiando constantemente, el robot un poco confundido acepta el reto y Kenta feliz por hacer que el robot lo conozca.

Este tipo de libros son reflexivos , y lo más interesante es que entretienen a niños y grandes, al momento de leerlo, los dibujos son geniales y nos cuentan las pericias del robot al entender la tarea que le encomendó Kenta y como el mismo niño de 9 años (aproximadamente) le explica sobre como es y quién es. Una lectura rápida y entretenida para chicos y grandes.

[Claire Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! This book is a fantastic picture book, which also has features of a graphic novel, for all ages (both key stage one and two). This book has a good plot; it is about a young boy who buys a robot which will act like him, but in order for the robot to be like the boy he has to find out what the boy is like so it asks him lots of questions. The questions the robot asks makes the boy consider who he is and what he likes, such as the places he likes to go, his likes and dislikes and what people think of him. This will encourage children to think about who they are as a person. This book could be used in PSHE lessons in both key stage one and key stage two. The illustrations in this book are also brilliant as they show what the boy likes, which is useful for children who find reading difficult, and they are also very colourful. I definitely recommend this book.

[Nekopau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoshitake tiene habilidad para entrar a la mente de un niño y explorarla para enseñarnosla y ampliar todas esas pequeñas grandes interrogantes. Y además, lo hace con palabras e imágenes por igual, en un balance minimalista (por su diseño) y complejo a la vez (por todo lo que abarca).
En este libro, Kenta decide comprar un robot para que sea su "otro yo" y haga todo lo que él. ¿Pero qué significa ser Kenta? ¿Qué debe aprender para hacerlo todo como él? ¿Será una tarea sencilla?
Ediciones del Zorro Rojo nos regala este libro, en el que leemos por todos lados (portada, contraporada, guardas, etc) y nos deja pequeñas pistas para elaborar las preguntas a las que el autor quiere aproximarnos.
¡Vale muchísimo la pena tenerlo! Ya quiero el resto de la colección ❤️

[PaulaPolka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoshitake tiene habilidad para entrar a la mente de un niño y explorarla para enseñarnosla y ampliar todas esas pequeñas grandes interrogantes. Y además, lo hace con palabras e imágenes por igual, en un balance minimalista (por su diseño) y complejo a la vez (por todo lo que abarca).
En este libro, Kenta decide comprar un robot para que sea su "otro yo" y haga todo lo que él. ¿Pero qué significa ser Kenta? ¿Qué debe aprender para hacerlo todo como él? ¿Será una tarea sencilla?
Ediciones del Zorro Rojo nos regala este libro, en el que leemos por todos lados (portada, contraporada, guardas, etc) y nos deja pequeñas pistas para elaborar las preguntas a las que el autor quiere aproximarnos.
¡Vale muchísimo la pena tenerlo! Ya quiero el resto de la colección ❤️

[Steph Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the train of thought of a little boy who wants to create a better version of himself. He begins by thinking about what makes him HIM. This is a hilarious book which contains great images that complement the text very well. This journey through the stages of the little boys thought is comical and engaging for the children. This book would be great in the classroom library to help engage the children and encourage them to read. If children are having trouble reading and have limited English language skills the images could provide a way for these children to tell their own story and understanding of the book.