Beautiful You, Beautiful Me

Izzy's favorite place to be is in Mama's arms skin to skin, safe and warm. One night, cuddled up on Mama's lap, Izzy notices something she's never noticed before: her skin is the colour of chocolate, but Mama's skin is the colour of sand.

When Izzy realizes she's different from Mama in other ways, too, she feels sad and confused. She wants to be beautiful like Mama! But Mama addresses Izzy's disappointment with a gentle, loving refrain:You're part of me, and I'm part of you. I'm beautiful like me, and you're beautiful like you.Finding lessons from nature and repeating her affirming message, Mama encourages Izzy to see her own unique beauty.

This story about a multiracial child navigating identity and belonging draws from author Tasha Spillett-Sumner's own experience growing up as an Afro-Indigenous girl. Lyrical text and warm, lively illustrations show Izzy's journey as she learns to celebrate the differences that make her uniquely beautiful, and the connection to her mother that transcends physical traits. (From Owlkids)

Beautiful You, Beautiful Mewill be championed by Janaye on CBC Kids Reads.

CBC Kids Reads will air during the CBC Kids weekday morning block on CBC TV and CBC Gem on March 27-30. CBC Kids hosts Tony and Janaye, as well as Gary the Unicorn, Mr. Orlando, Cottonball and Makeup Monster, willshare their six favourite Canadian picture books and celebrate the love of reading.

• Introducing the CBC Kids Reads contenders

Tasha Spillett-Sumner is a celebrated educator and poet, and the author of thepicture book, I Sang You Down from the Starsand thegraphic novelSurviving the City,whichwon the$2,000 Indigenous Voices Award for works in an alternative format in 2019.Spillett-Sumner lives in Treaty 1 territory, Man., with her husband and daughter.

• Manitoba author's picture book about motherhood, Indigenous tradition makes New York Times bestsellers list

Salini Perera has been making art for as long as she can remember and making art for picture books is a lifelong dream come true. She was born in Sri Lanka and now lives in Toronto with her husband and their three cats: Victoria, Albertand Princess Alice.

More aboutBeautiful You, Beautiful Me

WATCH | Tasha Spillett-Sumnerreacts to herbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads