Who will you be?

The look and message of Pippins' latest picture book are equally lovely in execution. The simple, affirmative text is accessible to children as young as preschool, and it invokes the many emotions surrounding building a child's unique character. As parents and educators seek new and innovative ways to help children develop compassion, understanding, and the power of kindness, this selection will be a wonderful support for this endeavor. The story consists of a Black mother pondering what kind of person her young son will grow up to be. Readers turn bright, color-saturated pages--the illustrations on which suggest cut-paper art--to reveal different friends and family members' defining characteristics. Will the little boy be loud and joyful like his cousin? Kind like his daddy, curious like his uncle, or adventurous like his auntie? Pippins does an amazing job of connecting positive characteristics to the adults in the boy's life and, by extension, to himself, and children will be able to follow suit within the context of their own lives. Young readers will love the way the words and pictures in this work weave together, with the illustrations occasionally adding to a character's depth, such as bold Grandma standing front and center at a protest. A perfectly executed paean to individuality, each child's potential, and the power of leading by example.

It takes both family and community support early on to encourage children to grow up to be their full authentic selves. New life often sparks conversation from excited family around whom the expected child may look like in the family or what they may grow up to be. Pippins here explores how one African American family celebrates their newest addition. Addressing the newcomer, the narrator speculates about which qualities and enthusiasms demonstrated by loved ones the babe might share. This heartfelt narrative speaks to everyday experiences, whether a family get-together, camping, or baking. Pippins goes a step beyond family to layer this narrative with the important role community plays in the black experience. From wondering whether the child will be like family members, such as "your cousin Curlena [who] is loud and joyful," the narrator moves on to wonder if the child will "find beauty in all that you see, like Ms. Jess" or "be compassionate, like Alessandra." The striking, posterlike pictures are filled with bold characters engaging in both activism and quiet contemplation in addition to homey activities. Characters are all different shades of brown, reinforcing a sense of vibrant diversity (though there is no recognizable LGBTQ or disability representation here). Older kids will relate to hearing adults talk about whom they resemble, whether in appearance or personality. A sweet work that promotes love and belonging. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.