Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Square Fish (2015), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages
Description
Relates the experiences of a dark-skinned, curly-haired child who wishes he could look more like the lighter-skinned children in his community until his mother helps him realize how wonderful he is inside and out.
User reviews
LibraryThing member debnance
Our main character in this story wants to be like his friends; he hates being dark skinned and having poofy hair and having a wide nose and having an unusual name and bright white teeth. His mom compares his hair to fudge frosting and his hair to cotton candy and the boy starts to take pride in his
“And then my moms said,
‘Wait one minute, my sweet! Can’t you see?
You have skin like velvet fudge frosting mixed in a bowl.
(You can lick the spoon.)
Cotton candy hair soft to the touch of my fingertips or braided like rows of corn with a twist.
And your smile,’ she says, ‘makes me so happy I could cry.
No amount of money could buy how it makes me feel.
For real!
It’s perfect.’”
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beautiful features. He grows to love being Chocolate Me!“And then my moms said,
‘Wait one minute, my sweet! Can’t you see?
You have skin like velvet fudge frosting mixed in a bowl.
(You can lick the spoon.)
Cotton candy hair soft to the touch of my fingertips or braided like rows of corn with a twist.
And your smile,’ she says, ‘makes me so happy I could cry.
No amount of money could buy how it makes me feel.
For real!
It’s perfect.’”
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LibraryThing member caseymdaniels
"Chocolate Me" tells the tale of a young boy struggling to accept the physical differences between his classmates, and himself. His classmates ask questions about his skin color, and the young boy wishes he could change it to fit in with everyone else. After he tells his mother he wishes he looked
Ages: 3-7
Source: Pierce County Library
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more like everyone else, his mother helps him see that people come in a variety of shades, and each one is unique and special.Ages: 3-7
Source: Pierce County Library
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LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Good story about learning to love yourself. If I were chocolate, I believe I would eat myself.
LibraryThing member sreinh2
I am torn on this book. I like this book because I feel like it is a great book for African American children who are being teased about things like the color of their skin and the size of their nose or hair. The book does teach children that everyone is different and that they should love
On the other hand, I think that this book could be considered racist by some people. The fact that the main character is called a "chocolate" boy could be taken out of context. As mentioned before this book is good for children that are experiencing bullying based on what they look like, but if a child is not facing that particular situation, or children who do not feel the way that the main character feels, this story could cause problems, by putting the idea in children's heads that people are different because of their skin color.
Overall, I did like this book because African American children are asked these questions at some point in their lives and this could be a valuable read for them
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themselves and others no matter what. On the other hand, I think that this book could be considered racist by some people. The fact that the main character is called a "chocolate" boy could be taken out of context. As mentioned before this book is good for children that are experiencing bullying based on what they look like, but if a child is not facing that particular situation, or children who do not feel the way that the main character feels, this story could cause problems, by putting the idea in children's heads that people are different because of their skin color.
Overall, I did like this book because African American children are asked these questions at some point in their lives and this could be a valuable read for them
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LibraryThing member jwesley
Chocolate Me delves into the life of a little boy who is criticized for his appearance. He learns to accept himself with his mother's assistance. This book teaches children of all walks of life to love the skin that they're in and to understand that everyone's different.
LibraryThing member MarandaJC
This book is about a little boy who notices that he doesn't quite fit in because he is chocolate me. His mom helps him understand that he is different but that doesn't change the way she loves him.
LibraryThing member sheanareed
About a young boy struggling with his idenitiy and wanted to fit in.
LibraryThing member Emilymassey
Outside, a little black boy plays with some other kids who are white. They make fun of him because he is different. His skins looks "dirty", his nose is wide, and he has crazy hair. When he goes inside he is sad and tells his mom. She says that he is like chocolate and is beautiful. This makes the
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little boy feel better and he doesn't care what the other kids think. Show Less
LibraryThing member Shekina.Plaskett
this book is about a little boy that being teased for being different and his mother helps him see that him being different is okay. This book is good for developing feelings of self-worth and self-esteem and understanding their emotions and express them in socially acceptable ways
LibraryThing member Marlene28
Chocolate me! this is a great book that says what the main character feels to be different from the other children around him. also it shows how the other children do joke about him. This book has a great message for families to share it with the little ones and make them see that despite of the
Age: 3 and up
Source: Lakewood Library
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differences in color we are all human beings.Age: 3 and up
Source: Lakewood Library
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LibraryThing member hidthemyd
Sweet story with a nice theme of self-acceptance. I loved the art as much as the story itself.
LibraryThing member JaniceBrody
A little boy doesn't like the way that he looks because he looks different than the other kids. His mom tells him just how special everything about him is and learns to accept and like how he looks.
LibraryThing member Joscellin
A little boy is bullied because of the way he looks and he realizes he is great just the way he is.
LibraryThing member alex5354
A BOY LEARNS ABOUT LOOKING DIFFERENT IS ALRIGHT
LibraryThing member kesharra
A little boy who wants to figure out who he is. He realizes that he doesnt need to change who he is.
LibraryThing member trenthamidou
A story of a boy who is teased based on the color of his skin. But, due to the help of his mother, he finds out that everyone is different and beautiful in their own way!
LibraryThing member junludai
This book is talk about a little boy, his have different color with his classmates. He is struggling with this differences, and his peers are making fun out of his color. So, he would like to color himself to be the same as others. However, when he ask for help from his mother, his mother helped
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him to see that every one is different, and it is fine if his different color. Finally he accpet that every one is special and unique. Show Less
LibraryThing member SarahNicole91
A story about a boy who loves his skin color and relates it to the world around him. ages 3-5
LibraryThing member mamapelton
For ages 4-6 years old. A boy lacks confidence after other children laugh at him because of his appearance. His family members help him regain his confidence. (Classroom book presentation).
LibraryThing member bethjones
book about little boy who discovers his difference in his appearance makes him special and unique
ages 3-7
source amazon
ages 3-7
source amazon
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
A good tool for broaching discussion about diversity and self-esteem with children, although I wish the ending was more decisive about his new self-acceptance.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
The protagonist of this debut picture-book from actor Taye Diggs finds himself the object of ridicule and bullying because of the dark brown color of his skin. The things his peers say - comparing his skin to dirt, commenting on the texture of his hair, and the width of his nose - are very
Although fully in agreement with the goal here, to reinforce positive self image in darker-skinned children, especially those who have experienced racist bullying or comments, I have to confess that I didn't find Chocolate Me! particularly well-written, or that textually engaging. I tend to avoid children's books penned by celebrities, but we had this one at work, and I found the cover artwork by Shane W. Evans quite appealing. All in all, I would say that this is one that might be helpful for some children, if they are experiencing harassment similar to the main character, but I would understand perfectly if parents decided that its tone was too harsh for their children, especially if they have not yet had the misfortune to become aware of these issues.
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distressing, and begin to make him doubt his self worth. Fortunately his mother is there to give him a better way of looking at the matter: he has skin like chocolate, and to her he is every bit as sweet.Although fully in agreement with the goal here, to reinforce positive self image in darker-skinned children, especially those who have experienced racist bullying or comments, I have to confess that I didn't find Chocolate Me! particularly well-written, or that textually engaging. I tend to avoid children's books penned by celebrities, but we had this one at work, and I found the cover artwork by Shane W. Evans quite appealing. All in all, I would say that this is one that might be helpful for some children, if they are experiencing harassment similar to the main character, but I would understand perfectly if parents decided that its tone was too harsh for their children, especially if they have not yet had the misfortune to become aware of these issues.
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Awards
Azia Books Diversity Award (Listed)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
40 p.; 10.5 inches
ISBN
1250068010 / 9781250068019