K-Gr 2–An inspirational title that challenges kids to be all they can be. In each spread Gutierrez dares readers to dream, do what hasn’t been done, see when others don’t, reach out, sing, be your own best friend, enjoy a silent night, etc. The rhythmic, poetic text begs to be read aloud. “Dare to be who you truly are. A light in the dark. Be you…a star!” The ink and watercolor illustrations are sketchbook loose without sacrificing expressions, individuality, and important details while orange, yellows, greens, blues, and purples abound without overtaking. In the diverse cast of characters one child is wearing a hearing aid, which is not often shown in picture books.
VERDICT A call to all children (and adults) to dare to be their best selves featuring an array of characters and perfect text for reading aloud. A solid general purchase.
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