Simple text and photographs introduce basic emotions--happy, grumpy, thoughtful, and more--and how people express them.

There are different ways to show and be who you are in this affirming photographic picture book that offers a celebratory and informative look at kids and their wide-ranging gender identities. "Sometimes it's hard when kids say you have to be a boy or a girl when you're not. Everyone should feel safe to just be who they are." Girls, boys, neither, both, or just not sure. Kids are kids! There are different ways to show and be who you are. It's up to you-how you feel, how you dress, how you act, how you play, learn, and love. Who is the true you? With the permission of their parents, the children in this photographic picture book were recorded and transcribed by authors Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner as they were photographed. These powerful testimonials paired with a spare narrative and vibrant, joyful portraits offer up a humanizing and moving exploration of kids and how they feel about their true selves.

A beautiful variety of childrens faces grace the cover and

pages of this picture book, and the opening lines state the premise: People come in many different shades. Not colors, exactly, but shades. The intent of the brief text is clear: Our skin is just our covering, like wrapping paper. And you cant tell what someone is like from the cover of their skin. Candid shots capture a variety of young children playing on beaches, in parks and playgrounds. Posed portrait photos also display an assortment of skin shades from cream and ivory to peach,

coffee, and cocoa. Filled with smiles and hugs, the pictures prove an upbeat confirmation of the books central idea. Message-driven but charming, this will enrich and spark discussions of diversity.

People come in lots of shades, even in the same family. This exploration of one of the most noticeable physical traits in humans uses vibrant photographs of children and short text to inspire young readers to look beyond the obvious. Full color.