I Like Who I Am

  • Illustrated By: Lee Claremont
  • Pages:40
  • Publisher:Theytus Books
  • Themes:Mohawk, bullying, dance, Pow Wow, acceptance
  •  
  • Available:09/01/2016
  • Age Groups:Fiction Ages 6-8
Paperback
9781894778633
$12.95
Celina is a young Mohawk girl who moves to her mother's home reserve. She is teased by her classmates who tell her that she is not Mohawk and does not belong because she has blond hair and blue eyes. Celina starts to believe her classmates and decides not to dance at an upcoming Pow Wow. But her great-grandmother helps Celina understand that being Mohawk is not about how she looks but about what she feels in her heart. When the drumming starts at the Pow Wow, Celina decides to dance after all.

A beautifully illustrated story, I Like Who I Am explores issues of bullying and belonging as Celina looks for acceptance in her new community.
"[I Like Who I Am] doesn't only work as a learning tool, with Mohawk words interspersed with English ones, it is a life lesson.

Heart warming, sincere and full of experiences we've all had, I Like Who I Am is a must read for parents."
– The Eastern Door
"An outstanding book ideal for helping grades three to six children begin exploring: 1) the concept of culture, 2) the dynamics and pitfalls associated with judging/bullying others based on their physical features, and 3) the value of taking action against bullies who judge others by how they look."
– Canadian Material Review