Whoever You Are

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox is a culturally sensitive book that is written with the intention of allowing children to see that people, no matter how different on the outside, all have similar hearts and souls on the inside. This story is written in the form of a letter, addressing young children and allowing them to see into the worlds of people who may live their lives very differently than they do.

The book begins by addressing “little one” in the form of a letter. The author then moves through the story by showing the reader that there are many people around the world that have different looks than they do, different day to day activities, different traditions, and different lands and schools. However, the story swiftly moves into allowing the reader to see that no matter these differences, all people have similar hearts, similar emotions, and similar feelings of love. It is expressed that no matter where you live and no matter who you are, you are part of this world where we are all connected as one through our hearts.

The authors’ purpose in writing is to allow children to see that there are so many people in this world, and we are all connected in similar ways. Too often, human beings feel separated by what makes us different on the outside. However, reflecting on what is similar helps children understand that we all really are not that different and we all deserve the same respect, love, and dignity. Fox has this book geared toward peace education, tolerance, and acceptance.  

The intended audience for this book is students ages 4-8, but I believe that it can be used with all ages. This book holds a strong message of connection in this world, and I always believe everyone could use a reminder about the way our hearts connect through our similarities. Often times, human beings are so wrapped up in their own lives that we forget about the feelings of others. Remembering that there are people who’s hearts feel joy and sadness just like you can help mend feelings of loneliness and sadness, and remind us that all being human means being united.

When thinking about character identity and sensitivity, this book wins top honors, in my personal opinion. The purpose of the book is to educate children on how to see others in the same light as themselves while still acknowledging the differences. The illustrations depict children from all over the world, every race and culture, and it is easy for children to fit themselves into the text, making it understandable and relatable to their own lives.

I love using this book as a read aloud for my kindergarten class. The book has simple text and illustration, but the message is big. The book itself leads to wonderful conversation about the way children live all over the world, and it is a great introduction to topics of culture, race, social and emotional expression, and acceptance of others.  

-Kaitlynn DeGrano