Different Just Like Me [Hardcover]

Lori Mitchell (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

While preparing for a visit to her grandmother, a young girl notices that, like the flowers in Grammie's garden, people who are different from one another also share similarities and it's okay to like them all the same.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

No youngster will miss the belabored message of Mitchell's first children's book: though people are different from one another in some ways, basically they are alike. Young April comes to this conclusion as she rides a bus with two children who communicate in sign language, watches a blind woman reading Braille numbers next to an elevator and washes her hands in a rest room alongside a woman in a wheelchair. The author stretches her concept thin with several examples, among them a man beside her at a lunch counter who orders the same meal as hers. Oddly, after painstakingly spelling out how each person is different yet simultaneously the same as [April], in two examples Mitchell pointedly sidesteps the issue of race. Mitchell's art presents another curiosity: though she opens and closes with finely detailed full-color scenes, in the remaining illustrations only the people appear in full color, against black-and-white backgrounds. While the visual effect may focus readers' attention on the individuals in question, kids may well feel cheated?by the absence not only of fully rendered artwork but of a story line as well. All ages.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A sweet dose of bibliotherapy that explores the similarities and differences among people. The story is told from the point of view of a little girl anticipating a visit to her grandmother's house. Every day as she waits, the girl and her mother go on an errand. On each of these trips, the child encounters someone who is different-someone who is either older, speaks another language, has a disability, or is of a different race-but who is doing the same thing she is. Acrylic paints highlight only a few items or people in each of the pen-and-ink illustrations, inviting children to take a closer look while reinforcing the story's point. Tolerance and acceptance are difficult concepts to address for a young audience, and this book does it in a manner that can be applied to a number of situations.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881069752
• ISBN-13: 978-0881069754
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a native Californian but I love to travel and sketch the world. I grew up in Redondo Beach where I was encouraged to be creative by my mom, the fashion designer. Both of my older sisters are also artists. The whole neighborhood would come over and mom would set up art school in the garage and they would have art shows in the backyard. So I have been drawing since I was about two years old.

I have been teaching art since 1996 at elementary schools, high school, Palomar College and the Athenaeum in La Jolla. Along with teaching I have done several murals around town with students and adults. Most of the murals are to bring people together in a unified effort to create something beautiful for the community.

I graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design with a BA in Illustration, which I put to good use. I have illustrated 10 books to date. My most famous is called Different Just Like Me, which I wrote and illustrated. I even got to go to Chicago and meet Oprah with that book! The book went on to receive many awards and honors. I have been doing school presentations since 1999 and I really enjoy meeting all the students. For more inside scoop on the book and for games and hidden pictures go to www.differentjustlikeme.com

I am active in the local art community. I'm president of the Society of Illustrators San Diego. I'm also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. One of my favorite things is to go once a month with the San Diego SketchCrawl group that meets in different locations to draw and laugh and just have fun sharing the creative process.

Along with illustration and teaching I have been working with mosaics since 1990 and was featured on HGTV's Crafters Coast to Coast. My favorite project was working with 350 students to create a 7foot by 4 foot mosaic of the world for Mann Middle School. The students spoke 25 different languages and it was a nice way to bring them all together. I now have my mosaics at Art N Soul gallery in Encinitas where after paying the artist and paying for utilities, they give all their profits back to the community.

In my free time I like to travel, shop at flea markets and draw unsuspecting people.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great discussion starter for difficult topics, October 19, 2000

By 

Leah Katz (San Diego, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Different Just Like Me (Hardcover)

When I first read Different Just Like Me I thought to myself, "What a wonderful book and what a great way to begin discussions in my classroom about respecting each others' differences". Never did I dream that this book would have the impact it had on my third grade class.The converstaions that were stimulated by this book were phenomenal! I was so impressed by how the book was able to open the door to the difficult topic of differences and acceptance. Children began to share their own experiences of times they felt left out or different. Children spoke about times when they felt uncomfortable around someone who was different then they were and they were unsure of how to handle that. I learned that my students had so many questions. They had finally found a safe opportunity to begin asking these questions. The children continued to refer to the book and make textual connectionns with this book throughout the year. It was obvious that the story had made a big impact on the children. Besides teaching a third grade class I also teach the Mainstreaming class for teachers at San Diego State University. I have reccommended this book to many teachers in the class as an avenue to begin the discussion about diversity in the classroom. I have heard such positive results from many of the teachers about how helpful it was to start the discussion with this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely outstanding book for all kid's self-esteem, April 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Different Just Like Me (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for my six-year old daughter after a friend so highly recommended it. We both just LOVE it! The concept of not only accepting but celebrating everyone's own individuality is exactly what we try to teach our own daughter. The text is easy to understand, but doesn't talk down to kids. The unique black and white illustrations with only the people in color just reinforces the similarity of all these different people. Your eye is not distracted by the background. It focuses immediately on the individuals that the main character, April, comes in contact with. My daughter, who is about April's age, constantly asks questions as to why people are different colors, sizes & shapes, in wheelchairs, blind etc. She is fascinated by these differences. Ms. Mitchell's book does such a beautiful job of presenting these differences but also pointing out the numerous similarities as well. The highlight for me was when my daughter proudly announced she could "sign" her name using sign language she learned while reading the book in bed one night.

I think it is an absolutely beautiful book with such a loving message. I can't wait to tell my friends about it. We now eagerly await Ms. Mitchell's next book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for all teachers and their students!, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Different Just Like Me (Hardcover)

Every teacher works with students who feel different in one aspect or another. This book touches the heart of all of these children and gives them new confidence. My class loved it and felt the message!