I Am Enough by Grace Byers (review)

For every girl who has ever felt discouraged because of her differences, Byers offers a rhyming affirmation reminding audiences that like the sun, they are “here to shine” and that differences do not dictate their worth. The message is warm, but the text sometimes loses itself in confusing imagery (“Like the rain, I’m here to pour and drip and fall until I’m full”), and the various similes end up as a fairly flat list. The illustrations, however, are luminous: acrylic and digital art provides rewarding complexity of hair texture, skin tone, body shapes, and facial feature in the diverse girl cast. Emergent readers may find comfort in the predictability of the rhyme scheme as they follow along with the text, while others may just appreciate seeing themselves reflected and supported. Written from the author’s own childhood experiences with bullying, this could have a place in a discussion of self-esteem and difference.