Do You See Me?

Confidence-boosting rhymes by Gardner Middlemiss model nurtured self-assurance in this warmhearted story. Beginning dialogue prompts recognition, with a child’s refrain eliciting encouraging appreciations from their caregiver: “Do you see me?// Yes, of course./ I see you’re driven—quite a force.” Eventually, the adult speaker returns the question (“But now I ask:/ Do you see you?”), and the youth’s exuberant responses (“I see myself, strong and proud./ I will live my life out loud”) powerfully reveal the positive echoes of earlier praise. Providing an additional layer of storytelling, Brown’s mottled digital renderings have a sandy texture that supports beachy scenes of the protagonist and adult companion, both depicted with brown skin, exploring the seaside. Amid sunset’s golden hour, the child looks forward with optimism in this shining picture of a child’s developing self-positivity and -reflection. Ages 6–8. (Apr.)