Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day

Actors and married collaborators Hill and Simon share their take on fostering self-love in children via powerful affirmations. An introductory authors’ note suggests that “when you say affirmations... you are actually rewiring your brain to believe what you say,” and instructs caregivers on how to create a meaningful ritual by “having your child repeat the affirmation back to you, out loud, in first person.” What follows is a series of “I am” statements (“I am BRAVE,” “I am IMPORTANT,” “I am LOVED,” and others), each of which is followed by brief rhyming verse that expands on the theme: “I am CHERISHED/ Just as the dawn of each day/ is wondrous and new,/ the most valuable treasure/ you have is you.” Knight-Justice’s digital artwork depicts kids with brown skin of varying tones exuding confidence and joy as they act out the accompanying text, modeling big concepts wrapped in an attainable, welcome family practice. Ages 4–8. (May)