Why Am I?!

Victor James Owner, author
H.J. Grimes, illustrator
Synergy Books (2006)
ISBN 9780976498186
Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (6/06)


Picture books and rocking chairs go together. Especially those books with sing-songy rhymes that parents can read to their children just before they send them off to Slumber Land. “Why Am I?!” introduces Little Star, a whimsical character who searches, and searches for answers. The child-like illustrations match Little Star’s spirit.

I read this with my own son, who at nine is now too old for these types of books once cherished in his past. But he was quick to offer his opinion as an “experienced” reader. Joshua liked the idea of showing that we all have a purpose. However, I knew he was really paying attention when he started picking out discrepancies in the pictures from page to page. There’s nothing worse than a kid pointing out that a character’s outfit has changed colors from one page to another while you’re trying to read. Especially if you are hoping he or she will fall asleep!


But if you stick with the under four’s, you shouldn’t have this problem. Besides, I enjoyed reading a children’s book without an overexposed licensed character. Little Star has plenty of friends from nature helping him in his quest including Breeze and Morning Dew. We should all be so lucky. For the really young ones, they many even drift off before you finish because of its length.

The author has succeeded in writing a story that offers opportunities for parents to reinforce the notion that we are all special and an important part of the world

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