I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem Book

"I'm gonna like me / when I jump out of bed, / from my giant big toe / to the braids on my head." So begins the sing-songy narrative of this affirmational picture-book from celebrity author Jamie Lee Curtis, which encourages the child reader to like him or herself, even when (inevitably) mistakes are made. The rollicking rhymes, in which a boy and girl alternate sharing how they like themselves, are paired with bright artwork from illustrator Laura Cornell, who has worked on a number of other picture-books with Curtis.

I was of two minds, when it came to reacting to I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem. I'm always a little leery of celebrity-authored children's books, as I often feel that their publication owes far more to the fame of the author, than to any merit in the story. I'm also wary of the seemingly inescapable self-esteem narrative that one sees everywhere, in books for the young, as I feel it often prioritizes feeling over reason and ethics. All that said, although I was largely indifferent to both text and artwork here, I can't say there was anything particularly wrong with them. The rhyming text reads well enough, and the colorful artwork is energetic and attention-grabbing - both factors that contribute to the making of a good story-time selection. The message is anodyne - not quite as narcissistic feeling as some others (I'm looking at you, I Like Myself! ), but not particularly powerful or inspiring either. A happy book - which is perfectly fine, even if it didn't make me especially happy.

In short: tastes vary (as do views on the matter of inculcating self esteem!), so if you're in the market for upbeat self affirmation, this might be the one for you...