Same Difference

by Calida Rawles

Same Difference is a charming book for young readers (4-8 year olds) that addresses the sensitive and sometime divisive issues of beauty and identity. It has a lyrical, upbeat air that begs to be read aloud and offers an engaging rhyme pattern for young children. Vivid illustrations capture the spirit and innocence of Lida and Lisa, two first cousins who find themselves at odds with each other over their physical differences. With the help of their wise grandmother, the girls soon realize that their bond is deeper than what they see and our differences are what make us beautiful.

Genres: Picture Books, Realistic Fiction, Cultural, Childrens

34 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2010

Reviews

[Charisma Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Same Difference
Author & Illustrator: Calida Garcia Rawles
Genre: Children’s Picture Book, Realistic Fiction, Cultural
Theme(s): Inclusivity, Race, Diversity
Opening line/sentence: “Lisa and Lida were just the same.”

Brief Book Summary: The book centers around two young girls Lisa and Lida who are inseparable. These two cousins do everything together and even dress the same. One day they are playing dress-up at their grandmother’s house, when looking in her mirror they realize how different they are, from their hair to their skin tone. They assume one look has to be “right” and one has to be “wrong”. With the help of their grandmother, they learn they just look different and are a part of a community (The African American Community) where everyone looks different and that is what makes everyone special. They realize the bond that they share is more important than their physical differences.

Tell Me Framework:
Like(s): I like how the book touches on the topic of race and acceptance in a manner that is easy for a young child to understand.
Dislike(s): I have nothing I dislike about this book.
Pattern(s): The last word of every two sentences or so rhymed.
Puzzle(s): Throughout the book, certain words are in a different color than the text, I was wondering what the purpose of that was? And why did the author choose the words she did?

Consideration of Instructional Application: This book focuses on the differences of the two young girls Lisa and Lida and why those differences do not matter. You could have the children all line up behind a line of tape on the floor and you could say something they like or a physical characteristic and have them step in front of the line if it applies to them. This game will help them see that physical differences play no part in who someone truly is on the inside.

[Jatoria Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the message of this story and how the author included the parts where the girls notice their difference in the mirror. A lot of times us adults won't think that children notice differences in other children but they do just as adults do. Depicting two cousins that look just a like but have physical difference that they can't control as well as showing the curiosity that most children have when they notice something different. They ask questions to understand to clarify the judgements they have made. It also shows children that when someone compares them to another child it's more than skin deep. Lisa and Lida look just alike from the having the same eye shape to the same smile but the only thing they saw was what stuck out the most. At the end, it was really good for the grandmother to explain how people in the world are diverse which means they're appearance looks different but that doesn't mean one type looks better than the other, everyone is the same. When working on my outline, I will use something along these lines to close with.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Same Difference” by Calida Rawles is definitely one to keep on your bookshelf for any occasion. It is the perfect message showing children that it is okay to be different no matter what you may look like. It is a story about two cousins who physically look very different but have been told they look the same for so long. They are confused and upset so they run to Grandma to answer all of the questions running through their heads. This book is an eye opening book about how being diverse is okay because everyone is beautiful in their own way. Now when they ask “Who is better?” Grandma explains how each thing about them is unique and amazing. This is a really great lesson to teach on if you are having problems with children who think they have to look a certain way and need to hear about how it is okay to be different.

[Nicole Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a beautifully told story about the differances among first cousins. These two are so close they play together all day everyday. Until one day they stop to play in front of a mirror. In this oversized mirror they notice they are somuch alike in many ways, yet so different in appearance that it is impossible for them to be cousins. The two decide to take their concerns to their grandmother. She tells the girls, neither one of them s better than the other. They are both the same. It i ok to be different and still the same. She also explained that the girls come from a diverse group of people that's why they have the differnces in skin tones and textures of curly hair. This books is a great way to explain how people can be different yet still be the same in so many ways. Being different does not make you better than others, it makes you , YOU.

[RLL220_Morgan Knollenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book for young children is about two very close cousins. They are each others best friends and love doing everything together. They play all day everyday until one day, running past a big mirror, they were compelled to stop and look at themselves. The girls recognize how similar they are, for all they know they are family and those are the closest people we have to us. But how could they look so different from each other and still be family? Confused, the girls went to ask their grandma if they really are family. Their grandma explains how yes they are indeed cousins, family. And just because they don’t look like one another doesn’t change any of that and never will.

[Delaney Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: contemporary realistic
Grade range: K-3
I love the way grandmother assures the girls in this book that neither is better. They are both beautiful in their own way. They are just different. I want to use this book in my classroom someday so that when my students begin comparing themselves to their classmates, I can use this book to assure them that they are beautiful in their own way. I would use this book to assure my students that despite their differences, we are all human and actually have many similarities too.

[Melissa Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same Difference is a beautifully sweet story about two young girls, cousins, who grew up looking like one another. One day, they notice differences and it upsets them. They ask their grandmother "who is better?" She lets them know that there is no person who is better than the next, our differences make us beautiful.

[Emili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary Realistic
K-3rd grade reading level

This may be one of my favorite diversity books of all time! I found the connection between the cousins to be a great tie to the book. I thought "Same Difference" had adorable pictures that aided the message. This book how so much truth and worth to our society today, and I'd love to read it to a classroom some day.

[Tiara Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This in an amazing picture book to depict on diversity and learning that you are different from others. The author does an amazing job of explaining that it is totally okay to not be the same color or have the same features as someone else, because we are all the same on the inside. I definitely will be sharing this book with my kids in my future classroom!

[Sherria Parchman-Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction Grades 3-6
I really love the message of this story, The story teaches about diversity within our society. People can have different skin colors, the can look difference, speak difference language and have difference cultures, but are the same even if difference.

[Alexandria Darienzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. It's rhythmic and upbeat and provides a great lesson on how we're all unique, and how one persons difference is not better than another's. It's the bond and what's inside that counts.

[Carissa Votolato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the message of this book. It glorifies every diverse look and emphasizes on the beauty of authenticity and culture. It teaches children that everyone is beautiful and there is nothin wrong with being or looking different than someone else.

[Rae Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story and loved that the author had a rhyming approach to the story. A great educational tool for parents and educators. Worth the read. Add this book to your child's library.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice and necessary message, very gendered and not very nuanced

[Sam Anneken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for interracial families to help the kids understand why they may not look the same even though they are related.

[Candy Sydney]

This book reminds me of my childhood. I’m dark skinned. Some of my cousins are dark skinned, some are brown skinned and some are light skinned. I didn’t think my complexion was an issue until kids at school began teasing me. I love how the grandma reaffirmed the cousins that although they looked different, they are still the same. I absolutely think this book is great for read alouds. I think this book will give a child of any complexion the opportunity to explore the different complexions in the classroom and understand that they are all still the same as they are children. This books appropriate to read in elementary school. This book is attention grabbing. Students will be interested in reading and listening to the teacher as he or she reads the book to the class. I appreciate that this book expresses the importance of self value regardless of any differences. I consider the genre of this book as realistic fiction.