I Am Perfectly Designed

August 19, 2019
The culture adviser of Queer Eye teams up with one of his sons in a tribute to both the parent-child relationship and the process of growing up. “Perfectly designed” serves as the book’s refrain, as the father assures a confident boy that he has all that it takes to explore and succeed in the world, even when the boy gets “mad, or sad, or confused.” Told in two voices, the narrative’s tone is upbeat and earnest—maybe, at times, a little more so than necessary—but the authors make room for some mild family playfulness. Father and son recall going as waffles and (organic) maple syrup for Halloween, and as readers see a series of family photos arrayed on a table, the son notes, “When I was a baby, I looked just like you.... Only I had no hair, and you had lots. Now,” referencing the older Brown’s trademark bald pate, “it’s the opposite.” Illustrations by Syed (Bilal Cooks Daal) have a wide-eyed, Disney animation pep and exude a breezy spirit of inclusivity—the end pages depict the protagonists surrounded by a wide range of happy couples and families (and the rest of the Fab Five). Ages 4–8.

October 1, 2019
A black father and son share a loving, nostalgic dialogue in this empowering picture book. Whether it's a pancake breakfast, playing in the falling leaves of an autumn walk, wearing coordinating Halloween costumes (a bottle of organic maple syrup and a waffle), or enjoying a healthy salad picnic in the park, it is clear that this pair is made for each other. The all-dialogue text is written by real-life father-and-son pair Karamo Brown (of Queer Eye) and Jason Brown; reminiscing through baby pictures, reaching for the stars on a rooftop deck, or pretending to be statues, these characters pull readers in with every turn of the page. "I had such a big baby head!" remarks the boy; "Indeed," replies his father. "But your big baby head was perfectly designed for you." Syed's bright, cartoon illustrations showcase the warmth of city life with an abundance of endearing, diverse families. The artwork includes details among background characters that enrich the tale with a meaningful message of kindness and inclusion, as in T-shirts with such slogans as "Be Kind" and "Feminist," multiple same-sex couples, and characters with various types of religious garb. With tenderness and wit, this story captures the magic of building strong childhood memories. The Browns and Syed celebrate the special bond between parent and child with joy and flair. (Picture book. 4-8)

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November 8, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-As a boy and his father take a walk through the city, they revisit some of their special experiences together, including dressing up like syrup and waffles for Halloween, and pretending to be statues in the park. The authors create a sense of warmth and wisdom and portray the main characters among other families that have their own worlds of memories and experiences. Syed's charming, colorful cartoon illustrations depict LGBT, Muslim, and multicultural families. This picture book provides young readers with an empowering lesson on the value of individuality and self-love. VERDICT This realistic portrait of modern family life is an excellent addition for any collection. It is highly recommended as a teaching tool for topics related to tolerance, acceptance, and inclusivity.-Angelina Bair, Lakewood Public Library, OH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2019
Grades K-2 Written in the tradition of African American picture-book titles such as Jeannette Caine's Just Us Women (1982) and Will Smith's Just the Two of Us (2001), this father-son story provides another beautiful narrative of what it means to be connected to the unconditional love of a parent. Throughout the book, a young boy and his father take long walks through the neighborhood, engaging in discussions that reinforce their lifelong bond. For instance, on one page the boy asks if his father remembers when they dressed as syrup and waffles for Halloween (adorable!), and the opposing page confirms that Dad remembers and leads to speculation about their next costume. Written by Karamo Brown (of Queer Eye fame) and his son Jason, the text appears as a sweet dialogue between parent and child that, while not always realistic, is brimming with love. Syed's wonderful illustrations depict realistic, colorful images of the characters living in a diverse city, acting as subtle demonstrations of how all children are worthy of love just by being themselves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)