Chicago Children's Museum The Skin You Live In

PreSchool-Grade 2–This picture book takes a cheerful look at human diversity by focusing on skin. Rhyming verses describe the many experiences that can be had in it ("The skin you have fun in;the skin that you run in;, the skin that you hop,/skip and jump in the sun in…"); the different shades in which it comes ("Your butterscotch gold skin,/your lemon tart bold skin;/your mountain high apple pie,/cookie dough rolled skin!"); and the things that it is not ("It's not tall skin/or short skin,/or best in the sport skin"). The poem ends by emphasizing the importance of the " 'You' who's within" and pointing out that skin is something that makes individuals different and similar at the same time. Tyler's cadenced language makes this a very rhythmic read-aloud.

Csicsko's vibrant and energetic illustrations are a perfect complement to the text and feature stylized children with elliptical faces and flowing fingers. Differences in the appearances of the youngsters go beyond skin color and include hairstyles, freckles, and eye shape.

While somewhat lengthy–the metaphors seem to go on and on–this volume is an affirming addition to the collection of books dealing with self-esteem and multiculturalism.

 

"Brightly colored, engaging illustrations . . . accompanied by a poem by Michael Tyler that celebrates all kinds of skin.” -- San Antonio Express-News

"Easy vocabulary and bouncy rhythm." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"They deliver a message about the beauty of diversity and the importance of accepting one another." -- The Dallas Morning News

"Using simple words and colourful images . . . offers the message that everyone is different, but the same, too." -- Chicago Parent