by bell hooks; illus. by Chris Raschka

Jump at the Sun, 2004

Image from Publisher’s Weekly

“The skin I’m in is just a covering.  It cannot tell my story,” begins the reflective Skin Again. The book’s blank verse is just begging to be read aloud, with text and illustrations blending seamlessly into one as hooks and Raschka together peel the layers from a person’s outside.  “If you want to know who I am you have got to come inside. Be with me inside the me of me” is accompanied by two differently colored children looking into each other’s eyes and abstract x-rays that show glimpses of their internal selves.  Raschka’s muted skin tones remind us that people live in many shades, and his brighter clothing and internal musings put the focus on the things that are common to us all. 

(This review was originally submitted as part of my picture book overview for Materials for Children class)