Gorgeously Me!

PreS-K–In this celebration of acceptance and positivity, Queer Eye’s Van Ness encourages children to support one another and appreciate themselves. Nair’s bright and expressive art includes children with different skin tones and genders; one child uses crutches for mobility. Rhyming couplets or stanzas on each spread move the story of nameless characters forward as the author emphasizes, “I know exactly who I’m supposed to be./ Perfectly, happily, gorgeously me.” While the book is not original in content, the illustrations shine and the concept of showing characters’ having different emotions and still “being gorgeously me” is done well. One character, on a day when they “feel blue” and don’t want to dance, finds strength and happiness to do so when a friend joins them. This expression of anxiety before a dance performance, along with a moment of sadness over a mistake, are quickly resolved with the idea of friendship. This is a good discussion point for children in small groups, even while recognizing that emotions may not be this easily overcome all the time. Van Ness’s emphasis on self-acceptance and community, though, combined with Nair’s sweet and exuberant art, helps this title stand out.