Gorgeously Me!

Jonathan Van Ness

Kamala Nair

Walker Books, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781760659462

I won’t be afraid to stand out or show the world what I’m all about.
I am exactly who I’m meant to be. Perfectly, happily, gorgeously me!

Using a rollicking rhyme that catties both the story and the reader along at a fast clip, and its exuberant illustrations, this is a book that encourages each child to celebrate themselves, just as they are and whatever that is. Regardless of what they look like, what they like to do, wear or eat, or how they express themselves. who they are is just fine, regardless of outside opinion or perception.  But while it celebrates each child’s uniqueness it also acknowledges that there can be down times, when feeling alone or sad can sometimes overwhelm, but it emphasises that these feelings are natural and normal and it is the love and joy of others that pulls you through.

And perhaps that could be the most important message of this book.  That life is not just one big party full of good times and good feelings that others pretend to portray – that feeling anxious or having a disagreement with a friend or just being out of step with the world are all part of everyone’s life and can be embraced and worked through as an integral part of the maturing of you.  

Over the years of doing reviews, it is significant that more than 400 titles have been tagged “identity” , each one sharing a similar theme to this one – that we are each unique individuals, and that our differences make us unique but our similarities unite us yet, regardless, who we are as we are is enough.   We don’t have to dance to some other piper’s tune or have our strings pulled by a master puppeteer and even though this is such a familiar theme, given the apparent precarious state of the mental health of our young, it is a message they need to hear over and over again.  

While some may recognise the author’s name from the television show Queer Eye in which a group of non-binary hosts offer lifestyle advice, for those for whom gender diversity in children’s books may be an issue, there is no reference to that in this title.  Although it may offer affirmation to those who are gender diverse, there are no direct references to that situation – it’s all about celebrating who we are for who we are whatever that might be.