You Matter

by Christian Robinson (Author) Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

You Matter
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

They All Saw a Cat meets The Important Book in this sensitive and impactful picture book about seeing the world from different points of view by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honoree Christian Robinson.

In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored--from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they're feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.

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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Simple and heartfelt, the refrain of Caldecott Honoree Robinson's poem speaks directly to readers: "You matter." In a neat rhetorical twist, the line also refers to the Earth itself, whose evolutionary history flashes by in gently comic collages made with blocky forms and bold paint strokes. Early sea life darts beneath a blue wave, small quadrupeds emerge from the ocean, dinosaurs appear. Under Robinson's broad gaze, everything in the cosmos has a part to play: whether a massive asteroid blazing Earthward ("If you fall down") or the planet, revived, spinning serenely in space ("If you have to start all over again"), "You matter." Human concerns recede in geological time, then come into focus as a brown-skinned astronaut orbits Earth while holding a photo of a child. A page turn shows the child back on Earth looking wistfully out an apartment window: "Sometimes, someone you love says goodbye." Scenes shift; the view from the child's apartment window moves in, from a busy city street to ants dining on park pigeons' crumbs, and then pulls back to a child gazing out an airplane window at an antlike cityscape below. By seeing all life as intertwined--ancient and new, minuscule and gargantuan, "The first to go and the last.// The small stuff too small to see"--Robinson represents life as both interconnected and precious. It's a profound thought expressed with singular focus and eloquence. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (May)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--Robinson follows up his acclaimed debut Another with more of his spirited illustrations and spare, reaffirming prose. From "the small stuff too small to see," viewed by a young girl peering through a microscope, Robinson depicts the perspectives of many creatures and people. Robinson's cut paper illustrations depict a timeline of existence through prehistoric times, through space, and finally in a contemporary, urban setting. Each spread contains small details that link one scene to the next, emphasizing his message of connectivity. Robinson captures sentiments many young readers are familiar with ("when everyone thinks you're a pest," "the first to go and the last") and repeats the titular phrase throughout the book as an uplifting mantra. Robinson conveys complex themes, hinting at the universality of emotions, while validating the individual emotional journey of young readers. The choice of characters and settings work seamlessly to convey the passage of time and the endurance of his message of resilience and the significance of how we all relate and contribute to the world around us. VERDICT An earnest message and charming illustrations grow more poignant under closer reading. Highly recommended.--Jessica Agudelo, New York Public Library

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Using simple, lyrical text and expansive, colorful illustrations, Robinson assures readers that, no matter what difficulties they may encounter or how a person might feel, everyone matters...nonjudgmental and reassuring, this is a great choice for anyone experiencing a bad day." - Booklist
Christian Robinson
Christian Robinson was born in Hollywood, California. He grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. His books include Gaston and Antoinette, written by Kelly DiPucchio, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal. He presently lives in northern California with his rescue greyhound Baldwin and several houseplants. He looks forward to one day seeing the aurora borealis. Visit him online at TheArtofFun.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534421691
Lexile Measure
310
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date
June 02, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Self-esteem
Self-acceptance

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