Hello friends, and Happy MLK Day! Today’s book is I’m NOT Just A Scribble! by Diane Alber, the story about the importance of being yourself and accepting others for who they are.

Once there was a little scribble, a unique little fellow whose lines wobbled and wiggled. He could be any color or size that he pleased, and he liked that about himself – it was always fun to be something different and colorful. One day, Scribble comes across a house drawn in black lines, and asks to play. The house is grumpy and dismissive, turning Scribble away and making rude comments about his colors and his haphazard shape. Later, Scribble finds a sun and some clouds that are similarly monochrome. He asks to play with them, and they are equally dismissive. Isn’t there anyone who can appreciate Scribble’s uniqueness?

This one had a lot of good things going for it! First, the art is fantastic: freeform crayon drawings over various pieces of paper give the book a fresh visual style with a fun sense of whimsy. The rhyming text flows well, and the themes are classic: the importance of being yourself, of trying new things, and accepting people as they are. There were a few areas where it faltered: the resolution seemed a little abrupt (though I did like that it came about because Scribble was unwilling to compromise himself), and the theme of diversity might have been explored a little better if there had been many scribbles of multiple colors and shapes instead of just one who could change his appearance; it could have shown that different people each bring something unique to the table. However, it was a good length, a fun story with great visuals, JJ enjoyed it, and the included stickers to make scribbles and encourage creativity in readers all combine to make this one a winner. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)