Only One You is filled
with great advice for your child (or anyone, actually!) and is sure to be
a conversation starter and hug inspirerer between reader and child. Mama and Papa rockfish decide their
little fishy, Adri, is finally old enough to hear the wisdom they have to share. Each turn of the page reveals more wise words and phrases
to Adri with loving care and intentions.
It begins with “Always be on the lookout for a new friend” and covers
many different avenues until Mama rockfish reminds Adri at the end, “there is
only one you in this great big world…make it a better place.” Vibrantly colored
round ‘rockfish’ are overlaid on real photographs of the sea. The rockfish
are actual rocks that have been painted on in great detail. The font changes
size and color frequently, keeping the reading eye-catching. An important word
or phrase on each page stands out by being printed on a smooth ocean
rock, such as: Beauty, Stand Out, Listen, and Appreciate.
This book is a great introduction to any pieces of wisdom
you want to pass down to your own child, if it’s not already named in the
book. It is also fun to ask them what they think is good advice they’ve
heard (and hopefully follow). The wonderful pictures also will inspire an art
project of painting rocks. You don’t have to be as fancy or detailed as the
gorgeous rockfish in Only One You; simply
find some fun shaped rocks, wash and dry them, and decorate them with some old
nail polish!
My nieces enjoyed this book together, despite being years
apart. My older niece enjoyed helping me sound out the words and
read to her little sister, Sophie, who was thrilled just to admire all the
different and brightly colored rockfish. I asked Emily what she thought the
best piece of wisdom to share with her little sister was, and Emily said,
“Look both ways before you cross the street…and don’t steal my clothes when
you’re older.”
--Audra