What Are You?

WRITTEN BY CHRISTIAN TRIMMER
ROARING BROOK, MACMILLAN

WHEN A PUGGLE meets two new poodle friends, there is a question the poodles feel they must ask. What are you? What am I? Yes, what are you? I am a dog. No, what are you? So begins a conversation about family and identity, and about the things we're good at... and why we're good at them. Brimming with warmth and playfulness, What Are You? is an exemplary picture book for early readers. Equally funny and thoughtful, the book includes prompts to facilitate important first conversations about stereotypes and bias between child and adult.

For more backstory, read Christian’s article “What Are You?” Christian Trimmer on Growing Up Biracial in School Library Journal.

Reviews

  • "Trimmer... employs matter-of-fact dialogue to keep the stereotype-prompted conversation squarely focused on curiosity and empathy, while cotton candy–hued, marker-style digital art by Curato... lends the same vibe to the characters’ interplay. A human variation of the conversation opens up to a reader-equipping discussion guide. Ages 3–6."

    Publishers Weekly

  • "Curato's cartoonish dogs in soft colors give an inviting look to this story about a conversation that will be all too familiar to many kids, and the final pages, showing a trio of children having a similar conversation, drive that point home."

    Booklist

  • "VERDICT A must-have for any public or school library collection."

    School Library Journal