Who could turn down an invitation to take a younger grandson to the older grandson’s school and a trip to the Scholastic Book Fair? Not me. The school is not wrong when it figures issuing such an invitation to grandparents will result in extra sales. Having been the enticing teacher on the other end before I was the enticed grandparent, I knew what they were up to but couldn’t resist. I do love rummaging through the nice selection Scholastic always sends, and they take credit cards!
Little did I know that I would find the freshly minted Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller who became my friend the year she came to Hattiesburg to receive the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Award for her book Sophie’s Squashin 2014. In between, she’s been busy writing and has a number of other books out that have scored stars from major reviewers, several different awards, and one that became a New York Times best seller. I stay a little amazed at the places the EJK award winners go after they receive new writer and illustrator honors, but I digress.
Of course, I added her book to my stack, and of course, Owen and I added it to our daily read-aloud before quiet time. Also of course, if you know this kid, his favorite picture and thing to be was the dragon-slayer, which he is ready to do as soon as the artistic side of him constructs the costume. Pat created in a gentle rhyme scheme an array of remarkable things YOU can be. Patrice Barton’s whimsical children representing the wonderful cultural variety in our world enhances the idea in the author’s words that the best thing a person can be is unique.
If you have a kid of picture book age, which covers a lot of territory since I still consider myself one of those, run – don’t walk – to your nearest independent book store and if it’s not in stock, get them to order it for you.