Book Review: We Need Everyone
#CYBILS2024 Elementary Nonfiction submission
WE NEED EVERYONE
by Michael Redhead Champagne (text), Tiff Bartel (illustrator)
Highwater Press, 2024
Everyone has a gift. Every gift is different, and every gift is special. Our world needs you to share your gift. What is your gift? How can you use your gift to help others? Inspiring and uplifting, this interactive picture book celebrates diverse cultures, perspectives, and abilities through playful illustrations..1
audience: preschool, elementary
tags: differences, diversity, multi-cultural, nonfiction, picture book
Taylor Coonelly (Judge)
This fun elementary picture book focuses on the idea of 'gifts' - skills/talents/things that someone is good at and can be shared with others. I really enjoyed this book, and the positive message it shares about how kids can build a stronger community with the things they love/are good at. I think that is perfectly suited for an elementary audience, both in the text and the fun and vibrant illustrations. I appreciated how diverse the cast of illustrated characters are, and how the 'gifts' featured were wide ranging for kids. I could absolutely see this being used as a beginning of the year book where elementary students could think about their own gifts and how they can use them to contribute to the class or school community.
Read Taylor’s full review at Goodreads
Sandy Brehl (Judge, Category Chair)
Tzhe message (find your gifts and share them!) is valuable and well conveyed, but the illustrations take the day. A variety of kids of so many differences are used throughout the examples , making the variety of society totally normative. A delightful book for early elementary.
Ready Sandy’s full review at Goodreads
Brooke Fairbairn (Judge)
A quick look at our gifts. Simple children’s story that explains we all have gifts, and we need them all. Enthusiastic and straightforward.
Read Brooke’s full review at Goodreads
Cover image, blurb, and tags sourced to Goodreads.com