When I Grow Up I Want To Be Me [Hardcover]

Sandra Magsamen (Author)

Book Description

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

Renowned artist Sandra Magsamen brings girls of every age an extraordinary interactive new gift book that celebrates girlhood in all its glory!


"I'll be anything I imagine I can be. I'll be happy with who I am and what I see."
Every page of this inspirational gift book includes vibrant, full-color illustrations representing girls of diverse colors, shapes and sizes. There are also magical interactive novelties on every spread, including satin hearts, luminous star stickers, lift-the-flaps, moveable die-cut butterflies and more. Sandra Magsamen has captured the essence of what it means to be young and female today. This book offers girls everywhere a reminder of the beauty and strength that resides inside of them.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Artist, gift seller, and art therapist Sandra Magsamen continues her artsy, all-out love fest (The Story of the Heart, Daughters Make Every Day a Gift) with a book just for girls.

As in When There Are No Words and Magsamen's other books, When I Grow Up I Want to Be Me is long on both positive thinking and production values. The simple text is accompanied by all manner of gift-book bells and whistles: "When I grow up I'll follow my dreams" flies beside a shiny foil heart-shaped kite; "believe in magic" faces a pop-up top-hatted rabbit; "and reach for the stars" has a pull-out page of star stickers. The 22-page book also includes holographic fireflies, lift-up flaps, a handstanding girl on a spinner, and a top-and-bottom career chooser (you can mix and match the legs and torsos of a female astronaut, dancer, firefighter, artist, and doctor).

Depending on when they received their last irony inoculation, young girls may find their cynical worldview either cured or exacerbated by this book. But it's hard to fault a message that's so tirelessly cheerful, and many girls will love--and could stand to hear--Magsamen's star-spangled, heart-bedecked, pigtailed paean to self-love. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 22 pages
• Publisher: Orchard (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043939886X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439398862
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 11.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #810,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful affirmation!, January 8, 2004

By 

Virginia Quilter (Leesburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I Grow Up I Want To Be Me (Hardcover)

This is an extraordinary book for young girls and it keenly exceeded my expectations as a Mom. I LOVE its strongly affirming message, which is all too rare these days. I read it with my 4-year-old daughter and she adores it. Great illustrations and fun sparkly pages with pull-outs. It's an awesome gift to share with a child you love.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lessons for boys and girls!, April 18, 2007

By 

T Yuan "Stuy alum" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I Grow Up I Want To Be Me (Hardcover)

The editorial book description encapsulates the delights of this book well, but misses one major point. While the book may seem addressed for little girls to help develop and strengthen their self-esteem, I think it's also important for boys to be exposed to that message. Teaching boys that girls are beautiful, strong, equally deserving of love, respect, nurturance and acceptance, is a message that should be delivered from an early age and to all children--boys and girls alike. Two pictures and lessons (e.g., "I'll learn about life from other points of view" and "Decisions will be made with thoughtfulness, kindness and care"), in particular, were especially noteworthy values that I only wish the adults (and political leaders) in our life took notice of more when they were young.

One word of caution: The book is bigger than most board books and the material is not as strong. This book may be better appreciated by kids 2 years old and above. Otherwise, be prepared that the pages may rip from curious and anxious hands as they turn the pages.