You Are a Story

by Bob Raczka, Kristen Howdeshell (Illustrator), Kevin Howdeshell (Illustrator)

An empowering reflection on the many things we are and the ways we relate to the world.

Poet Bob Raczka’s You are a Story highlights all of the nuance and potential of a growing person’s identity, delighting in the things that make us special and connect us to others. Text and illustrations replete with inventive imagery and appealing metaphors show how we all live as individuals and citizens of the world.

             You are a living thing.
              You breathe. You eat. You Sleep.
              You work and play.
              You have dreams and fears.
              You have thoughts and memories.
              You are.

What makes you you ? So much goes into who you are, and you are so many different A child, an animal, a body of water, a friend, a mystery, one-of-a-kind, a miracle. You are and could be so many things, but whatever you choose to do, it’s your life to write, you are a story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Fiction, Love, Friendship, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 21, 2023

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

What are humans? Living things, someone's children, bodies of water, and astronauts are a few of the ideas in this story that compares us to each description. In a nutshell, this is the story of us.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know that you....
are under construction?
are a body of water?
are a mystery?
A friend?

A wonderful empowering poetic book, this one showcases all kinds of very diverse children as they move and grow through life and all that that entails.

This would be a perfect story-time title for "All Together Now" theme for Libraries. This would also make an excellent gift to friends/family with young children.
The simple but beautiful illustrations by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell (from my hometown, thank you) are wonderful and diverse.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macro-, micro-, existential...Raczka tells readers what they are, and invites them to wonder what they might become. He reinforces that each person is important to others, encouraging friendship and community. The artwork, created in Adobe Photoshop, shows children with a variety of skin tones and abilities. Earthy colors and figures with soft edges are full of detail and texture.

[Debrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: The cover pulls you right in and reflects the theme well. The illustrations bring the text alive in creative, vivid ways (love the family tree!), full of motion and interesting perspectives. The color palette is pleasingly consistent, using natural colors that go well with a theme of life. The visual and textual flow is successful.

Quibbles: I was disappointed that the "You are a mystery" page only asked (about a person who seemed to be a girl) "What will you be when you grow up? What will you look like?"
"What will you be" is such a career/work/identity-focussed question, as opposed to, say, "What will you care about? What will you enjoy doing? How will you fill your life?" There are richer questions to ask.
And "what will you look like [when you grow up]?" is an interesting question to kids, certainly; but I was sorry to see it appended to an (apparent) girl. It's too easy for the message to line up with this culture's "looks are important for a girl" message.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you listen to other people's stories? Do you know you have your own to tell? Seriously, you do!
This darling children's picture book tells the tale of how YOU are unique and only you can tell your story.

The "story" in the book stays true to a picture book as it is simple and easy to understand. It is the illustrations that really do it for me. Bold and large the pictures make this book, and the words enhance it. This is different as usually, it is the other way around.

This would be a great book for preschool through kindergarten and pair it with an enrichment about self or write their own stories.
4 stars!

Disclosure: I checked out this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. I love the fact that this book is all about being YOU! I would recommend this book to any K-3rd grade reader. This book is all about you as a person and the person that you want to be. I especially liked how it made a point of adding how we share with others, and how we need to listen when others share with us. The cover is very different. It will most certainly catch the eye of multiple readers. It almost looks like the author/illustrator took a page from the “book face” competitions that have been going around for years when creating the cover. It’s interesting for sure and also goes along with the “tell your story” theme.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Bob Raczka's usual delightful message about "you", all that you are and do in childhood accompanied by the beautifully colored illustrations by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell, everyone will take a second look at themselves and be inspired to consider their lives in all its fun and glamor! Somewhat different, not quite the same, it's all who "you" are. You deserve love, you care about others, and yourself! The brief words and exciting pictures will be wonderful to read with young people, and perhaps it will be an invitation to write about self or draw a self-portrait? I enjoyed it very much!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so sweet! I love the illustrations, but most importantly I love how simply it explains the vastness of being you. It doesn't make sense when I explain it so you'll have to read the book.

"You are a story.
You are the author of your life.
Every day is a blank page waiting for you
to fill it. Make your story funny. Make it
interesting. Make it an adventure.
Tell your story to others
Then listen to theirs."

[Julie Jordan Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read to my newborn Granddaughter. She is a newborn, but I talked about the glorious mixed media style illustrations with children of many ethnicities and uniqueness (one child was in a wheelchair.)

I loved how the writer reiterated each child is living their own story - and how important it is to listen to one another.

Beautiful book: I will be giving copies to my friends who have children (or grandchildren!)

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each of us share many things in common with others - We are all living creatures. We are each a child of someone. We are mostly water. We live on earth. But we are also uniquely ourselves. There is no one else like us - and there never will be. We are constantly learning and changing. What we will be when we grow up -- no one knows! But - we all have a story to tell. Or, as Raczka puts it - we are all stories.
An insightful, encouraging book to contemplate and ponder.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful poem of self-empowerment for kids of all ages, including the inner child of adult readers! Expressive illustrations expand each metaphor in imaginative ways. “You are a story. You are the author of your life. Every day is a blank page waiting for you to fill it. Make your story funny. Make it interesting. Make it an adventure. Tell your story to others. And listen to theirs.” Words for the wise.

[Anna W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about all the things the reader is but most importantly, A STORY. We are travelers of earth, mammals, oceans of water, and more. We are under construction all of our lives, always learning, growing, and evolving.
This poetic book allows readers to wonder and see themselves within the magic of the universe. It's a beautiful story, and it could be used to prompt really wonderful writing lessons about students' futures.

[Katelin Soroko · Rating 5 out of 5]

You as a person and your life is a story! Nobodies are exactly like yours! You are forever changing and things are a mystery until they happen. As important as it is to listen to share your story it’s important to listen to others.

I feel like I would use this as an introduction to a writing unit. Every student has great ideas and sometimes they struggle with what to write. I think it is best when you write about something you know, like yourself!

[Clara Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story to teach children about the concept of self. We all have our own backgrounds, interests, experiences, and futures. While there are a few things about everyone that are the same, there is so much that is different. These differences make us unique! This story highlights the importance of sharing our stories and listening to the stories of others. I could see myself using this book in a classroom to introduce ourselves and our own unique stories.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations really made this for me, although the concept is also very strong. A sort of Oh the Places You'll Go for the younger set, I couldn't get over how wonderfully evocative the illustrations were, often making readers think about the images, rather than being so literal. Not perfect, but one of my favorite picture books of the year. 4.5 stars rounded up to five.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on Henry Hudson trail for Monmouth county’s story walk. A book kids can read with their family when out on a nature walk. I would give it 3.5 stars. I liked the illustrations. There’s enough repetitive words that a beginning reader could give it a try. It was a book with a positive message….maybe a little pandering/corny.

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably better for older children who will understand the parts about being a mammal and being mostly made of water. It could also be good to read the first bit for storytime and then do a picture walk of the rest.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A philosophical look at what a human is: a living thing, a child, an animal, a miracle, a friend. Would be a great milestone gift book.

I think my favorite part about this is at the very end: "Tell your story to others. Then listen to theirs."

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Raczka shows all of the characteristics and traits that identify us as human beings. The important things that make us the same . However, his challenge to every reader is, “As the author of your life, make your story funny, interesting and an adventure. Then, tell your story to others.”

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tell your stories to others. Then listen to theirs.”

A celebration that every person is unique and writes their own story everyday. “You are the author of your life.” Will you make it funny? Interesting? An Adventure?

[Cassandra Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet book by Bob Raczka about finding and taking pride of identity, acknowledging that everyone is vastly different and valuable nonetheless. The illustrations are beautiful and they word choice provides for an empowering experience to any reader.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about being yourself and how there is no one exactly like you. Each page takes a concept and talks about how you as a human match that concept whether it’s being animal whether it’s being water whether it’s being unique and different. All in all the book and has to match.

[Clementine · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was perfectly serviceable and kids will like the detailed illustrations but i truly felt like i've read this exact book 20 times.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Affirming who all children are—works in progress. Diverse characters. Mix of metaphor and reality. Illustrations guide the story. My favorite page was “You are a body of water.” Good book.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

nicely done

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An affirming, empowering reflection on the many things we are, and the ways we relate to the world.

[SamSamSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unexpectedly awesome! I would love to read it to a preschool group. TALK

[createitlibrarian (Amanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Might use it for a "special me" theme. Though it is a little long so probably with mostly ages 4-5.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Great read aloud,teacher friends!!