Title: I’m Not by Pam Smallcomb & Robert WeinstockSummary: Two friends; one is many things while the other is not. Either way, they still love one another.Rating: Maybe/NoAge: 4-6 years Pros: The illustrations are charming and detailed. (They are quite reminiscent of James Marshall’s illustrations in the George and Martha books.)The vulnerability and insecurity of the main characters is believable and some children will easily be able to relate to it. The final message, that it’s okay to be different, is a powerful and important one for children to be exposed to. Cons: This story is based upon a good moral but it’s poorly written. I think children in the target age range would have problems understanding it. The setting is all over the place, which distracts readers from the moral and tender relationship between the two main characters.Usage: The book is intended for story time but I would not use it. We've all had an "evelyn"...a friend who effortlessly achieves in life while we struggle along. Shared with quirky illustrations of two crocodilian characters, Evelyn's friend realizes that she is able to do some things that Evelyn cannot and that friendship is about being there for each other rather than competing or comparing. This would be a nice book to share with a child who is feeling as if their friends can do everything better as a reminder of their worth.
