School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Presenting several diverse families enjoying the various attractions at an amusement park, Harris explores the numerous ways that people are alike and different. Many examples are presented; for instance, while we all have many of the same body parts, those parts come in different shapes and sizes. The author provides an explanation of some of the causes of similarities and differences, such as genetics. Her concluding message is that no matter how different we may be, we all have feelings and that it is wrong to use differences put people down. Westcott's signature child-friendly cartoon illustrations support and expand the theme of the text. Crisp and clear, the images depict a variety of individuals-children in wheelchairs, a woman in a hijab, a man wearing a turban, and a boy wearing a yarmulke-and add charm and invite repeated examination. VERDICT A valuable addition to most collections and particularly useful as a springboard to antibullying discussions.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
This installment of the Let's Talk About You and Me series tackles a wide range of topics related to human diversity. Opening text affirms everyone's uniqueness: "All around the world there are peoplebillions of people. But there is only one of you," while Westcott's art depicts ethnically diverse families entering a theme park called Funland. There are interracial families, a child using a wheelchair, a woman wearing a headscarf, and a two-dad family. One interracial family, including a black mother, white father, two children, and a baby appears in every spread, and the children's speech-balloon conversation punctuates the narrative text's statements about hair texture, skin color, eye shape, languages, dress, stature, etc. While the intention is clearly inclusive, some phrasing may give readers pause: "People's bodies are mostly the sameexcept for the parts that make them a girl or a boy, or a man or a woman," for instance, ignores increasing awareness of intersex bodies and transgender identity. Illustrations also do little to present diversity in body shape and size, since the majority of people depicted are slim. Readers are invited to consider the pain caused by "saying mean things," which pushes beyond surface celebration of diversity. This leads to a closing reiteration of each person's uniqueness while also emphasizing that "we are more the same than we are different," especially with regard to feelings. An uneven but nevertheless worthy effort. (Informational picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This title continues Harris and Westcott's Let's Talk about You and Me series of books, which makes abstract concepts accessible to young readers and their adults. Their newest follows an interracial family through an amusement park where better to find a kaleidoscope of humans? Siblings Nellie and Gus notice how they look a little bit alike. But not a lot alike. From there, the lens expands to all the people around them. Difference is explained first in simple terms, such as clothes, haircuts, and so forth, moving to more complex ways, like hair texture and eye shape. These details set the stage for an explication of the roles of melanin and inheritance and, later, for the reality of how difference can be scary or make people say mean things. Every unkind act can be remedied, however, and ultimately, we're all more the same than we are different.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2016 Booklist
