School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--In this simple ode to mindfulness and self-reliance, a young girl walks readers through pieces of her daily social-emotional journey. Her home is cozy, and "smells like cinnamon and feels like warm pajamas." When she's not home, things feel different, but she can find "home" within herself. She loves playing with her friends, but can be her own company. Dancing to music makes her happy, but she can dance to the rhythm of her own drum when things are quiet. While these concepts are abstract for the intended preschool audience, Perdomo simplifies them well enough to encourage conversation between the adults and children sharing the book. Illustrations full of vibrant color and texture, as well as racially diverse characters, give this book visual appeal for not only preschoolers, but a wide slice of the general population. While the message that "I can love myself and become whatever I need" may feel a little starry-eyed and pat to adults with more life experience, this book covers the topics of self-soothing and fostering inner peace well for a younger audience. VERDICT A worthy purchase for collections that need mindfulness/social-emotional selections for children.--Jennifer Noonan
Kirkus Review
A young girl finds courage, comfort, and peace within. An unnamed young girl with light-brown skin, cued as Latinx, tells readers about the various people in her life and the activities she enjoys doing with them. Sometimes she spends cozy hours at home with her single mom and their dog, Rumba; goes on camping trips with other kids; and splashes around in rain puddles with her White-presenting friend, Mateo. When she needs help, there are neighbors she can count on, and if she feels sad, "a hug from Grandma makes everything better." But sometimes, when she's away from home or there is no one around, she has to rely on herself: "I become my own home, where I feel calm." "I can be my own company and make my own magic," the girl shares, and "I can love myself and become whatever I need." Children will learn that they can give themselves a hug if no one is available to do so and create their own light, if need be. Perdomo's simple but powerful narrative explores the balance between self-reliance and dependency and conveys the equal importance of self-care and allowing others to care for us. The colorful digital illustrations, endearingly rendered in a naïve art style, show the girl spending her alone time contentedly doing the things she loves, like dancing to samba music and putting on a magic show for her toys. A heartfelt, reassuring picture book that will help children develop inner resources and psychological strength. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In this story, an upbeat, brown-skinned girl shares how she sometimes leans on herself to feel calm, safe, and secure in a world that can be overwhelming or scary. It presents several relatable scenarios in which the girl musters courage or channels her creativity to fend off troubling feelings and boredom. Colombian author-illustrator Perdomo's heartwarming artwork makes this simple story sing with its childlike style and charm. Her illustrations are filled with bright, bold colors and clean lines that pop against white backgrounds, and many feature vivid floral designs and cheerful patterns tucked into the scenes--from the girl's flowing cape to her bedroom decor. Through the girl's example, readers will learn self-reliance skills for soothing themselves when moments become difficult and an appreciation for both having company and being alone. There are several instances when the girl turns to an adult or family member for help or comfort, but the most moving portions of the tale are its moments of empowerment, which contain sentiments like "I can be my own support and stand by myself" and "But when I'm alone, I can be my own company and make my own magic." The playful artwork keeps the text from ever feeling saccharine, and this winning combination will give children the confidence to tap into the power they hold within themselves.
