This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From
What’s inside...
A young girl learns about her family's heritage and connects with her roots through the experience of gathering watercress by the roadside. The story reflects themes of family, identity, and cultural appreciation. It intertwines the girl's Chinese heritage with the personal childhood experience of the author, Jamie Lee Curtis, shared at the end of the book. The illustrations by Jason Chin, inspired by Chinese painting techniques, enhance the narrative. The book is a 2016 National Parenting Product Awards winner. From the #1 New York Times bestselling creative team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell comes a timely picture book about immigration, raising important identity issues such as 'Where did we come from?' and 'Who are we?' This Is Me is both delightful and important, stimulating dinner table conversation. In This Is Me, a teacher discusses her great-grandmother’s journey from home to a new country with only a small suitcase. The book encourages readers to consider what they would pack and what defines them, using lively, rhyming language and endearing illustrations. It is interactive, with a pop-up suitcase in the back cover for young readers to engage with and reflect on what matters most in their lives.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What special object would you choose to put into your suitcase and why is it important to you?
How do you think your life might be different if you lived in another place?
What does 'home' mean to you? How does it make you feel?
Can you think of someone who is from a different background than you? What might you learn from them?
How do you think knowing your family’s history helps you understand yourself better?
Tip: Role play these questions
Invite your child to bring a small object that represents something important about themselves and use this as a starting point for the conversation.
Relate personal stories of your heritage or any family migrations to make the book's theme more relatable and engaging for your child.
Encourage empathy by discussing the feelings of leaving something familiar behind and adapting to new places.
Highlight the diversity of different backgrounds and how everyone's unique history contributes to who they are.
Encourage curiosity by asking your child to think about what questions they might ask their grandparents or older relatives about their past.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Identity
Explanation: This book encourages children to explore what makes them unique, such as their backgrounds and experiences.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to share stories about their heritage and personal interests with peers and family, fostering a sense of pride and identity.
Example Lesson: Appreciating Diversity
Explanation: Through its narrative, the book showcases a variety of cultural backgrounds, illustrating that every individual's story is important and distinct.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to respect and celebrate differences among their friends and in their community, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Importance of Family and Ancestry
Explanation: The story underscores the significance of family history and the influence it has on personal identity.
Real-World Application: Children can be engaged in activities such as creating family trees or exploring family traditions and origins, enhancing their connection to their family history.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: By seeing life from different perspectives through the characters, children learn to empathize with others' experiences and views.
Real-World Application: This can be applied in everyday interactions at school or in the neighborhood, where children can practice understanding and relating to the feelings of others.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: The book's exploration theme invigorates curiosity about one’s own life and the wider world.
Real-World Application: Curiosity can be channeled into educational activities like research projects about other countries, cultures, or their own family’s history, enhancing their knowledge and understanding.