So who are you today? This morning, you might have woken up as a monkey. You made monkey sounds and climbed all around until mom said to stop it. On your way to school, you might have been a policeman
So who are you today?
This morning, you might have woken up as a monkey. You made monkey sounds and climbed all around until mom said to stop it. On your way to school, you might have been a policeman or a crossing guard who helps people. Maybe you were a teacher today, or a wild-animal hunter. Maybe you were the wild animal.
In the book “My Name is Not Isabella” by Jennifer Fosberry, pictures by Mike Litwin, a little girl has many names. Which one fits for now?
It’s a bright, sunshiny morning, and the mother tells Isabella that it’s time to wake up. The little girl gets out of bed, but she says that her name is not Isabella. She tells the mother that her name is Sally, the greatest astronaut in outer space!
The mother tells Sally that it’s time for breakfast. Even astronauts need to eat a good meal before they get into a rocket. The little girl sits down to eat, but she says her name is not Sally; she’s Annie, the greatest sharp-shooter in the world. The mother says that cowgirls need breakfast, too.
Soon it’s time for school and the mother says that Annie must wait for the bus. But the little girl says her name is not Annie. It’s Rosa, the greatest activist there ever was! And so brave Rosa boards the bus and heads for school.
After school, the mother looks for the little girl, but Rosa doesn’t get off the bus. Instead, Marie does, and she’s the smartest scientist there ever was. At home, Marie won’t help set the table, but Elizabeth does. And Elizabeth doesn’t stay around after dinner.
But who will eat the cookies that the mother bakes? Who will take the nice, hot bubble bath that the mother draws at the end of the day? Who will sleep in the little girl’s bed and who will hug the mother good night?
Got a make-believe artist around? Then you know how fast kids can put on a different identity. They’ll identify with the girl in this book.
Aside from the cute factor in this book — and there’s plenty of that — author Fosberry gives her little main character several real women to emulate: Sally Ride is the “Sally” in this book, Annie Oakley is the “Annie,” and so forth. Young children aren’t going to catch on to that, but you will. Mini-biographies at the end of this book will help explain things if your child is curious.
While I thought the story in this book is fine, what appealed to me the most are the adorable illustrations by Mike Litwin. Pay close attention to the expressions on Isabella’s face, and watch her stuffed mouse. I was purely charmed by both, and I think you will be, too.
Whether you eat breakfast with your child tomorrow morning, or a facsimile with a different name, that child will love this book. Pick up a copy of “My Name is Not Isabella” for your little great pretender.
• The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. She has been reading since she was 3 and never goes anywhere without a book.
