I, Too, Am Here by Morgan Christie & Marley Berot

Time to take a break from spooky season reads to cherish a book that will mean so much to any immigrant or person of color.

Inspired by Langston Hughes’ iconic poem I, Too, this children’s picture book follows a young girl who tries to figure out racism and xenophobia as it’s directed at her family. Her grandmother is a hardworking Black immigrant who used the money earned from three jobs to bring her son, the narrator’s father, over to join her in her new country. Her mother moved away from the United States of America’s Jim Crow South, where Mom saw and experienced legally enforced inequality and the struggle for civil rights firsthand. Even in the present day, small incidents at school remind our young narrator that people can still react poorly and hurtfully to the color of her skin out of sheer prejudice.

To help comfort and inspire the narrator, her mother reads to her the poem I, Too, and explains that she belongs right where she is. Diversity is strength, and no one should feel ashamed of their cultural background or racial heritage. While the book does not further expound on the fact that it’s the content of one’s character and actions that are the only basis upon which people should be judged as members of any even halfway decent society — understandably given its remit as a picture book — it does provide an affirming message to any child who fears that the hatred of others means that they don’t have a right to grow up and live where they are.

While the tale is obliquely set in Canada, the messages within are relevant to any person, young or old, who’s ever been made to feel like they shouldn’t be part of a community simply because they look different. It’s a strong statement of self-belief, as well as a paean to diversity. No one should be ostracized from society simply because of the way they look.

Tho speaking of the way things look, I actually stopped at the very first page to pore over and admire Marley Berot’s spectacular art. Her work with light, transparency and color is breathtaking. The only thing I didn’t super love about this book was the weird typesetting, tho I only got to look at an advanced review copy and perhaps that has been changed for the better in the final version. Regardless, this is a wonderful book about being proud of who and where you are, and not letting anyone let you think you’re lesser just because you came from somewhere else or have darker skin. Plus, it gave me an excuse to re-read Langston Hughes (which everyone should do!)

I, Too, Am Here by Morgan Christie & Marley Berot was published September 10 2024 by Second Story Press and is available from all good booksellers, including