Me and the Family Tree

by Carole Boston Weatherford, Ashleigh Corrin (Illustrator)

A celebration of family roots from award-winning children's author Carole Boston Weatherford!

I've got my brother's ears

And my sister's big bright eyes.

I've got my grandpa's hands

Though mine are a smaller size.

As a young girl reflects on the characteristics she shares with her family, she also notices and appreciates what makes her unique. This adorably sweet book reminds children of the love and security of family and celebrates the wonderful diversity among the people that make up our families and who love us so much!

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Fiction, African American, Storytime

24 pages, Board book

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Carole Boston Weatherford is a children's book author and poet who mines the past for family stories, traditions, and struggles. A number of CAROLE's books tell the stories of African-American historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens, and Billie Holiday. Other books recount historical events such as the Greensboro Sit-ins and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. CAROLE's books have received a wide variety of awards, including a Caldecott Honour for “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom”.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a pretty, pretty picture book!

The illustration is so good. Kudos to the artist and the author for bringing a really cute little story about families.

I would say the content has a lot more to offer than what the cover says.

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Kids, for the advance reading copy.

[Ancillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute delight of a book that follows a young girl's appreciation of what makes her unique and beautiful. This book will remind you of how uniquely and beautifully you were made.

I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Tsholonki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, I read it with my nephew and it got him excited about who he looks like in the family. It has been a hit, I cannot wait to order him his own hard copy. It's engaging.

[Dione Basseri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, with perhaps a misleading title. You don't get to SEE a family tree, and I think including one would have been an amazing addition! Especially if the "shared" body parts were somehow highlighted, so we could see what the familiar inheritance is like.

So, this is more about genetic inheritance. As in "I've got my grandma's cheeks" and "I've got my father's mouth." The artist did a great job getting those body parts to look alike, but not seem copy-pasted. Each person looks unique, but, looking through their features, there's a lot of that expected resemblance.

There is little text, and it's all well-chosen. I think this might actually work great as an early reader! No more than a sentence a page, and the most complicated word I can see is "smaller."

My kid enjoyed this one, and we had a fun time pointing out what features she got from me.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet book stars an adorable little girl who is a walking, talking, family tree! How quaint! Who knew?


"I've got my brother's ears

And my sister's big bright eyes.

I've got my grandpa's hands

Though mine are a smaller size."



She discovers that she is an impressive mosaic composed of different physical parts similar to other family members. These familial contributions verify her belonging in the family and make her very unique as well.

"Me and the Family Tree" is a celebration of her family heritage which is wrapped up in the special love bestowed upon her from many of the members.

The large vibrant illustrations, by award-winning children's book illustrator and graphic designer Ashleigh Corrin, are fantastic and very kid-friendly. It is a perfect bedtime story... or anytime story. I love the book and highly recommend it.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spend so much time teaching adolescents that there are times I escape to read some titles from the littles. I accessed this one on my school's online library platform. A board book, the main protagonist looks at the ways she is similar to other members of the family. I can see this as a cute introduction to a classroom activity on similarities and differences or just about the members of our family.


When I look in the mirror, I can see my family tree.




Goodreads review published 13/04/23

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows a simple pattern of naming a relative and then a body part that the first person narrator has, such as "I've got my father's mouth". After naming various relatives and body parts, the book says "when I look in the mirror, I can see my family tree". Unfortunately, this book doesn't describe what a family tree is or explain what it means to "have" your father's mouth. In my opinion a board book's target audience should be younger children and therefore the ideas should be more literal. This book seems to have more abstract ideas and would perhaps work better for older kids.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This simple picture book talks about the physical characteristics we get from our family members. Each page as beautiful illustrations and one line of large, easy to read text. It is a nice story for young children and it features black characters. I would recommend this book to parents of children in the age 3-7 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ME AND MY FAMILY TREE, Carole Boston Weatherford creates a beautiful story connecting a child to her family, making for a perfect board book. The story is great for babies or small toddlers to introduce them to different family members and parts of the body. Ashleigh Corrin’s illustrations are beautiful and colorful, yet simple. The large faces dominating the pages make this book a sure attention-grabber for young children. Such a lovely book not to be missed!

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The child at the center of this book finds the similarities between themselves and their family members in their hair down to their toes.  My two-year-old loves this book and so do I. It’s such a sweet way of showing how you are related to your various family members and a perfect book for a new baby or Thanksgiving/Family Reunions/Holidays. A must for a child’s home library.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Board book. A young black girl goes through her body parts and who else in her family has the same one. It's a cute story about family resemblance, and the illustrations are very fun. The page with the girl and her grandma in their bathing suits showing off their cheeks is my favorite. A fun book to practice body parts with little ones or to discuss family resemblance with slightly older kids.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable rhyming book shows a little girl who notices that she resembles other family members, leading her to conclude that when she looks in the mirror, she can see her family tree. Good way to point out how family members can share physical traits. With babies, it can also be used to reinforce language about body parts like eyes, cheeks, nose etc...

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This board book explores features by comparing the main character's appearance to immediate and extended family members. It's a cute way to introduce body parts to little kids, and the family aspect is warm and sweet.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Love the sentiment! Love the illustrations! This a wonderful board book to share one on one or in a small group setting. Will be perfect for Terrific Twos and may Wonderful One as well.

[Andrés · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful book that is universally relatable, centered on a little Black girl's joyful discovery of her own unique identity and how it connects her to members of her family, too.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this book that celebrates the ways black children can look like their family members


I read a digital advanced reader's copy from the publisher

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple rhyming story where a young child is saying where they got their nose, their toes, their chin, and introducing you to their family. This book just works.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so adorable! I absolutely love the illustrations and the text is simple, rhyming, and cute!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, highlights resemblance to biological family

[Marita Ankobiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book. My little one enjoyed the illustrations and was very attentive to the reading.

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was short and sweet

This was a cool little book that shows how family is connected .

I would recommend this books to those with little ones.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Kayla - the.bookish.mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple rhyming text celebrates a young girl’s unique combination of traits that link her to her family. Charming!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A toddler and up book about a child showing and telling all the different things they inherited from the grownups in their world.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and fun

[Rachel Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet and fun!

[Brittany Judd Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Story

Very cute story that kept my busy toddler interested. We enjoyed the pictures and rhythmic flow. Definitely worth checking out for family storytime!

[Jacquelyn Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book about sharing physical traits from family members!

[Travelmaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute board book with little one realizing which traits he shares with his family ('I have my grandmother's cheeks').