The Day You Begin (Kathryn Bartholomew

SELF LOVE WITH JACQUELINE WOODSON’S THE DAY YOU BEGIN By Kathryn Bartholomew

“There will be times that the world feels like a place that you are standing all the way outside of - And all that stands beside you is your own brave self” – The Day You Begin The Day You Begin is a book about belonging and selfacceptance. The picture book begins by describing moments during a typical school day that could make a child feel different or like an outsider. Experiences such as moving from another country, bringing a lunch with food that classmates might not recognize, or not being physically able to play on the climbing bars at recess. These moments are told from the perspective that the students’ differences feel othering – and touches on the fear a person would feel that the way they are different might be unacceptable to their peers. The book moves through multiple, relatable perspectives, each with its own unique difference. The picture book centers on Angelina, who spent her summer vacation having fun reading and taking care of her little sister. As her classmates tell tales of their exciting travels, she feels that her summer cannot compare to the other students’ vacations. Then the narrative shifts to children sharing their differences with their classmates. Angelina describes her summer to her classmates and sees the value in talking about her experience as it opens a dialogue with another boy in her class. The book shows us that when you share your differences with others, you form connections you wouldn’t otherwise have made. While the book is speaking to children, the message of not comparing yourself with others and the value of our differences can be applied to any person at any age. Angelina decides that she is proud of the summer that she had and then has the courage to share it. The lesson that celebrating the things that make you different is a courageous act of self-love and acceptance that is universally important to all ages.