Perdomo, Juliana. Sometimes, All I Need Is Me. Juliana Perdomo, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 04/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-1-5362-1804-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-2.
A little girl describes how she uses her thoughts to calm herself and deal with stress: “But when I’m alone, I can be my own company and make my own magic.” Useful for social and emotional learning, this simple story can help young children with issues of security, fear, or uncertainty. The brief, straightforward text is supportive but does not pander. The boldly-colored digital artwork uses white backgrounds and has a cartoonish graphic feel that is inviting. Race is not mentioned, but the girl and her mother have brown skin and straight black hair (the author/illustrator is Colombian), and other characters represent a range of skin colors.
Penny Peck, San Jose State Univ, iSchool