Me I Am!

by Jack Prelutsky, Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

I am the only ME I AM
who qualifies as me;
no ME I AM has been before,
and none will ever be.

 

Three very different children reveal their individual personalities in a series of visual mini-adventures. Readers meet a mischievous tomboy who would rather roller-skate than wear a frilly dress, an inquisitive nature-loving boy, and an artistic ballerina who puts her own spin on Swan Lake. Finally, in a wild and funny climax, the three collide - only to discover a world full of unique and special "ME's."
 
With exuberant art and gleeful verse, this empowering celebration of individuality and diversity is just right for any young child discovering his or her own self - and the fun of being ME!

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, Self Esteem, Emotion, Cultural, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2007

About the author

Jack Prelutsky is an American poet. He attended New York public schools, and later the High School of Music and Art and Hunter College. Prelutsky, who has also worked as a busboy, furniture mover, folk singer, and cab driver, claims that he hated poetry in grade school because of the way it was taught. He is the author of more than 30 poetry collections including Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep< and A Pizza the Size of the Sun. He has also compiled countless children's anthologies comprised of poems of others'. Jack Prelutsky was married to Von Tre Venefue, a woman he had met in France. They divorced in 1995, but Jack remarried. He currently lives in Washington state with his wife, Carolyn. He befriended a gay poet named Espiritu Salamanca in 1997 and both now work together in writing poems and stories for children and adults alike.

Reviews

[LauraW · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the idea and the illustrations, I must admit that this is my least favorite of the 4 Prelutsky books I have read lately. It was too static. Each two page spread was great by itself, but the book as a whole didn't have enough forward progress for me. I suppose if you considered each double page spread as a completely different poem, like Ride a Purple Pelican, each one is good, but it didn't hang together for me. [Caveat, again: I read this one in a bit of a hurry. I should have taken more time.]

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute message in the book for kids. The illustrations were great! A bit repetitive.

[Ginna]

Great book to encourage the students to be unique and to reaffirm that they are wonderful just the way they are. Talk about how everybody is different and unique!
In the dramatic play area set up different customs and face painting materials. Ask your students to wear and paint their face their unique way. Then, set up a parade for music and movement. Let them use this custom and paint all day! At the end of the day ask the to write about the whole day experience in their journals: Reminding they had the opportunity to choose their own custom and paint their faces, being part of a parade and most important of all they had a chance to express their uniqueness.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book with good intentions; colorful illustrations that show kids doing different activities, a repetitive poem that highlights the importance of being yourself, and overall, celebrating your uniqueness. I must admit, though, that our girls weren't overly impressed with the book and the "Me I am" poem is a bit of a tongue-twister. Great effort and intentions, but not our favorite book.

[Alycia Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me I am is Poetry book written by Jack Prelutsky with pictures by Christine Davenier. This poem is intended for readers ages three to six. Me I am, is about children who do not fit into the stereotype roles society puts on them and learning that it is okay to be different. This poem does an amazing job of teaching kids is okay to stand out and to be unique because there is no other you. Especially with this day in age where bullying is so prominent, its important to give children a chance to express themselves and let them know its okay to send out from the crowd. I give this poetry book a five of out five because in such a short poem Jack Prelutsky was able to to get a much larger point across with his simplistic words. I also enjoyed the watercolor esc imagery throughout the book that really told the other half of the story. Without the imagery the reader would not have been able to draw the connections the author was trying to make. I can see children reciting this poem everyday as a motivator tool to start the day and to remain positive even in times of self-pity. Whenever your feeling down just remember “I am the only ME I AM this earth shall ever see”.

[Natalia Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me I Am! is a poetry book about three children who all display their unique personalities. These children each go on their own adventure and end up uniting and realizing that there are lots of different “ME’s” in the world. The theme of this book is acceptance, which is an important concept to teach young kids. I like the importance of the message in this book and how Jack Prelutsky wrote it in a fun and easy way for children to understand. This is a fun book that I would use to teach my elementary students that everyone is unique and it is okay. I would read this to them and discuss with them what they thought it was about. I would then teach them about how everyone is unique in their own way and that is a good thing. I would tell them the important thing to remember is to be accepting as the Prelutsky says.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me I Am! is written by the U.S. Children's Laureate, Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Christine Davenier. In this book, the read will learn that it doesn't matter what skin they are in and that every one is unique. This important message is drilled home in this book by the repetition Prelutsky uses. The would make a terrific read aloud for younger children in grades K-3. It is a bit of a tongue twister, but the repetition and rhyme is sure to keep the attention of younger children. Kids will also enjoy the humorous illustrations, which depict a different child on each page, showing off what makes them unique. A good poem with a great message.

[Samantha Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incredible. It is a simple yet great book. Me, I Am was written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Christine Davenier. Young readers need to read this book so they realize how unique and great each one of them are. It is a simple poem that I feel kids would enjoy. This short poem explains that their are no two alike people. Everyone is different in some type of way, rather it be a big difference or something small. I would read this to my students and I would want my students to read this as well. This illustration in the book I feel will also inspire the children that painting do not have to be formal and perfect sometimes they need to just be simple.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three very different children reveal their individual personalities in a series of visual mini-adventures. Readers meet a mischievous tomboy who would rather roller-skate than wear a frilly dress, an inquisitive nature-loving boy, and an artistic ballerina who puts her own spin on Swan Lake. Finally, in a wild and funny climax, the three collide - only to discover a world full of unique and special "ME's."

With exuberant art and gleeful verse, this empowering celebration of individuality and diversity is just right for any young child discovering his or her own self - and the fun of being ME!

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Key Words: poem, 3-6 year olds
This books is basically how there is no two people the same, and that you are who you are underneath your body no matter what.
I personally didn't really like the book due to the repetition, but I feel that it could be used to introduce both poetry and rhyming to young children. I'd read the book out loud and have the kids point out what rhymes. TEKS ELA.1.9.B would be used for this lesson plan.

[Brianna Dobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keywords: Poetry, Picture Book, identity

Summary: In this cute book three children show that they are all different. It is a great children’s book to teach them about being themselves.

Prompt: Identity characteristics presented in this book include feelings, personal preferences, interests, and physical appearances. All of these for three different characters. This is important because if a child sees somebody like themselves in a book it gets them excited to learn.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Energetically illustrated with primarily repetitive verse. While the core message could easily be sanctified for building children’s confidence or dismissed as buying into the Me culture, it doesn’t seem that the young listeners to this title will be disadvantaged to be reminded that they are loved for their uniqueness. The illustrations lift the pretty simple verse off the ground to fly.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Sam I am, I find this book unnecessary but if any kid doesn't have the name Sam and wants to trap their parent into this tongue twisting chanty book, have at it. The pictures are lovely and representative.

[Amanda Wooden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book of poetry for children. I was not a huge fan of the illustrations but to each its own. I did enjoy the message that this book portrays which is that no one else can be you other than you.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great source for facial expressions

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most Prelutsky, it's fun to read out loud

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems and fun illustrations about being the only "ME", no one like "ME."

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute with an important, inspiring message. 3/5 stars.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute concept. But there are so many other books that speak on this concept that are so much cuter and the awkward grammar in this book didn't do it for me.

[YG · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is only one me!! What a great message for a Children's book. Me I Am is a great poem children's book! I defiantly recommend!

[SM R]

In this fun poem storybook children will learn the all important message that they are irreplaceable.

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's ignorant to judge someone based on their skin color. You're looking for the wrong traits in a female. Shame on you!

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter rated this book 10 stars so I have to give it 5!

She identified with the swan lake ballerina 🩰

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just okay.

[Destiny]

This is a book about children of all skin colors and races loving the skin that they are in. This book shows different stories of several children telling why they love the skin that they are in. I think that this story would be very interesting to children. So many children can relate to this book. It represents so many races and cultures. This is another book that shows self love, no matter what the color of your skin is. This book shows that all races are beautiful and all races matter. It is showing that no skin color is more important than the next. I think the illustrations for this book are perfect. The illustrations actually help the children relate more to the book. Children can look at the pictures and notice that one of the character's skin colors is just like theirs. The characters in this book show a variety of cultures. So many cultures are represented in this book. This is what I like most about this book. It can represent so many different children and can help all children with loving their skin. I think that this is a happy book, representing all people in a positive light. I think this would be a great book to read in a classroom with a diverse setting.

[Aisha Rokarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me I am! written by by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Christine Davenier is a realistic fiction book. It is a story of three different children with unique personalities. A story of a tomboy, a boy who wants to be a vet and a girl who is creative and playful. This book is a great representation of accepting yourself for who are. It does not matter what you like to do and how it may be different than the norm. This book points out the fact there is only one you and your uniqueness is valued in this world. The book has a lot of repetition in it to reiterate the point of self acceptance. The illustrations are great guide to help students pick out the unique qualities of each child. The illustrations are colorful and really grab the readers attention. This book does not have a typical problem and solution story line, it is just a very uplifting story. I recommend this book because it really helps children to accept not only themselves but also others.

[Heather Bowden]

The main idea is that there is only one you in the world and that you should embrace your uniqueness. The main characters are three children, one girl who is a tomboy, a boy who seems to have a love for nature, and another girl who is very girlie and wants to be a ballerina. The book is fiction and it is also a poem that is repeated three different times in the book to coincide with each character.
After reading a couple of books about diversity in friendships I will read this book and ask the children if the three characters in the book could be friends. This would require a response from the children, if they answer yes I would ask them what they could do when they play together since they all seem to be into different things. If they have trouble getting started with ideas I would suggest that the children in the book could talk and listen to each other about their likes and dislikes, I'm sure they will find out that they have some things in common. If they answer no, I will choose two friends I see playing together often, in my class, preferably a boy and a girl. Then I'll ask the girl what her favorite hobby is and then ask the boy the same question (hopefully getting two different responses), then I can say "They are friends so why can't all the children in the book be friends?"
Neither the author nor the illustrator resemble the children in the book. But they did a good job with showing the differences between each child, with plenty of clues of what each child likes, even though the text itself doesn't talk about what the children like to do. Again this can teach children that it's okay to have different interests than your friend, you may even find something else that you will enjoy doing.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ME I AM is a wonderful poem that displays and encourages the uniqueness of every person. No one is the same. This poem, written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Christine Davenier repeats three times to display three different children and the interests and characteristics that make them who they are. The poem flows easily with its rhyming pattern. Children will enjoy the pictures and will laugh at a girl in her underwear deciding what to wear. These illustrations extend the meaning of the poem and students can use the pictures to discover the uniqueness of each character. The illustrations also display different ethnicity so each child can connect to the story. This is a great text to use in a primary classroom at the beginning of the year when students are getting to know each other. The theme that everyone is special for who they are and that no one else will ever be them is a true and valuable teaching point. Students can draw themselves and their interests and place their faces around the poem copied on chart paper or made into a big book. It is a great way to show and explain that, “I am the only ME I AM this earth shall ever see; that ME I AM I always am is no one else but ME!”

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me I Am! (Poetry)

Me I Am! is a book that encourages children to explore who they are. It is written in a rhyming poem that is also illustrated with different children throughout its pages. The girl who would rather be a tomboy than a princess, a girl who likes to 'be' a ballerina.These girls and boys who like who they are just, 'Me I Am'. The way in which this is worded can be a bit confusing. I would have preferred it to simply say, 'I Am Me'. This would make more sense to the younger child that it is geared toward.

The characters are flat, as they are not really developed as more than illustrated children of different shapes, sizes and flesh tones.

If I were to use this in a classroom setting, I would use it to highlight each child's uniqueness. I might have each student pair up and interview the other so that they could introduce that student to the class, as an introduction of the new school year.

There are many other books that I find are helpful to introduce the classrooms unique makeup and to allow children the pleasure of self-acceptance. One that follows along this line that I am particularly fond of is, 'I Like Myself' by Karen Beaumont.

[Jasmine Springs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me I Am, was written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Christine Davenier. This poem is about three different children and their relationships with themselves. This book is unique in that it specifically portrays children gaining self awareness and self confidence about who they are and what they like and how they feel. Ironically the poem says the exact thing about each individual child. Which to me means that the same dialect could be made by each individual kid in the classroom. Having repition in a book allows younger children to develop a relationship with words in a book. Words are being remebered, recalled, and associated with pictures in books. The author definitely relates to children in that he prefers to writing childrens books as opposed to adult books because he feels as if he never really grew up himself. There was a diversity in ethnicity in this book. The illustrator has a child of her own and easily used imagery that were relateable to small children. I would use this book as a transition for a daily writing journal. I am the only me... and make sure that the children are comfortable talking about themselves.