The Me I Choose to Be

Striking, imaginative photographic portraits of Black youth by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, embellished in Photoshop, fill the pages of this picture book, which shows the figures’ unlimited potential. A mantra-esque refrain unites Tarpley’s rhyming statements throughout, encouraging readers to embrace their multitudes: “My creativity and curiosity/ flow without end,/ and if I meet an obstacle,/ I just begin again.” Metaphors beginning with “I am” open each page, centering Black children as “a maker, a creator,” “joyful,” “a tiny bird,” “the night sky,” and more. Suitably themed photos portray the models adorned with props, fanciful outfits, and intricate hairstyles against richly colored backgrounds, often in space, emphasizing a speculative Afro-futurist element. An empowering visual essay. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)