Book Review
A short overview of this book
Who We Are! All about being the same and being different by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, is a book about being the same and yet different.
​This is the fifth book in Robie H. Harris’s series of books for children in the early years. Each book focuses on just one topic. This one is about how we can all be so different yet the same!
Who We Are! All about being the same and being different talks about:
- there are many people in the world but there is only one of you
- no one is exactly like you – even if they look alike
- people’s bodies are mostly the same – except for the parts that make you a boy or a girl
- we all have the same body parts on the inside and the outside
- but these parts that are the same can look different eg different coloured eyes, skin, hair, etc
- some of our features are passed onto us from our birth parents or grandparents
- we can’t tell what a person is really like from their outside eg do they like green jelly?
- sometimes we feel nervous or a little afraid of someone who looks different – chances are though, that you will both have something in common
- sometimes people say mean things about someone’s skin colour, or what they are wearing
- everybody has feelings
- being mean can hurt someone’s feelings – try saying sorry for what you have done
- what’s wonderful is that we are more the same than we are different.
This is an important book as it explains to children that whilst we may all be very different, we also have much that is alike.
This is a pretty important lesson for kids to learn. Firstly, because it will help them to be more accepting of the differences that they see around them in their friends. They will be more accepting of differences and be less likely to discriminate against them.
Secondly, it will help them to be more accepting of their own differences because they will know that it is normal for everyone to be different.
Reading Tips
Make sure you have a look at the book first (before you read it to your child)! That way you will know what to expect. You can find some tips in this article on how to read ‘sex ed’ books.
This book is a picture book but it is very wordy. You may have to summarise the text on some pages, as it is very comprehensive. Most 3 year olds would not have the attention span to sit through a ‘start to end’ read of this book.
This is actually a pretty easy book to read. It briefly mentions that the parts that make you a boy or girl, and there are no illustrations of the genitals. So there are no ‘scary bits’ for you to be worried about ie there is no talk of sexual intercourse. Who We Are! All about being the same and being different is a pretty safe book to read.
Who We Are! All about being the same and being different is one of the many sex education books for children that talks about diversity. This book though, provides a quite detailed explanation of the many ways that we differ yet are the same.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 3 to 8 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Who We Are! All about being the same and being different from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Let’s dive into this awesome transcript about embracing our differences. This book, written by Robie Harris and illustrated by Dean Bernard Westcott, is part of a series for young children. It’s all about celebrating our uniqueness and understanding that it’s totally okay to be different.
In today’s multicultural world, it’s crucial for kids to accept and appreciate diversity. Imagine if your little ones are used to a predominantly Caucasian community, and then they start school and meet children from various ethnic backgrounds. This book helps them understand and embrace the fact that we have different skin colors and come from different cultures. Teaching tolerance and acceptance at an early age lays a solid foundation for their entire lives.
The book starts off by pointing out that there are lots and lots of people in the world, but there’s only one of each of us. How cool is that? It takes us on a journey to a fun land where we learn that even twins, who may look alike on the outside, are unique individuals on the inside.
The book covers a wide range of differences, from different body parts to various hair and skin colors. And here’s the best part: it explains why we have these differences. I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember learning much about melanin and all that stuff in school. So this book breaks it down in a way that’s easy to understand. It even talks about eye shape and how certain traits can be passed down through generations. Fascinating, right?
But it’s not just about physical appearances. The book reminds us that we can’t judge someone based on how they look. We might meet someone and have doubts or misunderstandings, but once we get to know them, we might discover that we have things in common, like a love for ice cream!
The book also touches on feelings, which is super important. Sometimes kids might notice differences and ask questions that make us wonder if it’s racism. But it’s just their curiosity. It’s our job to explain that while people may have different skin colors, we’re all the same on the inside. And let’s not forget about feelings! The book teaches kids to be mindful of others’ feelings and to apologize if they say or do something hurtful.
Finally, the book reminds us that we all start off as babies and grow into adults. We’re all different, but we’re also all unique and similar in our own ways. It’s a beautiful message that plants seeds of understanding and acceptance.
Now, I have to mention that this book is quite long with lots of words, but it’s also incredibly comprehensive. You can read it all in one sitting. So grab a cozy spot, snuggle up with your little ones, and enjoy this wonderful journey of embracing our differences.
I hope this review helps! Cheers!
