No Matter What . . . We All Belong - by Becky Davies (Board Book)

About the Book

"You belong, just the way you are! This sweet rhyming book shares the comforting message that we're all important and we all matter, despite our differences. With peek-through pages and a squishy, shiny rainbow"--

Book Synopsis

This fresh and friendly book about diversity presents the message that every person belongs, no matter what our differences may be, and features padded, shiny fabric; peek-through pages; die cuts throughout; and a shiny cloth rainbow at the end that shows through the front cover.

Feeling accepted and included is incredibly important in a child's social emotional development. This touching, accessible board book about diversity presents the message that we ALL belong, no matter what our differences are. Rhyming text, peek-through pages, die cuts throughout, and a shiny cloth rainbow at the end that shows through the front cover make this the perfect book to celebrate individuality in an uplifting and accessible way for the youngest readers.

Review Quotes

Smiles and clear skies abound in this bright board book jubilee of belonging. As children with varying abilities and skin tones play together, upbeat rhymes from Davies communicate a straightforward message of unity: "No matter what the music, / no matter what our name, / no matter what our language.../ our smiles are all the same!" In Martín's friendly, unlined art, inclusive scenes spotlight a game of dress-up in which a brown-skinned child, who wears a bindi and a hearing aid, dives into a costume chest, while a pale-skinned youth layers bunny ears over a hijab. Later, an individual using a prosthetic leg and another wearing a kippah observe fireworks bursting over a skyline that includes the silhouettes of what seem to be a cathedral, mosque, and pagoda, among others. Peek-a-boo die cuts provide visual depth and offer glimpses of a glittery concluding touch-and-feel rainbow--a tangible symbol of the inclusivity celebrated throughout. Ages 2-5. --Publishers Weekly

STARRED.PreS-K-Die-cuts in various shapes offer children puffy glittery glimpses of the rainbow that brings this book to a close, but along the way, the uplifting message more than cheers them on: "No matter what the music, / no matter what our name, / no matter what our language.../ our smiles are all the same!" It's a message worth shouting, it's chantable, and it will have story hour attendees begging for rereads. VERDICT With a diverse crew of children of so many abilities and in such an array of cultural garb, this book wins. We all belong. --School Library Journal

About the Author

Becky Davies is a children's book editor and author from the South West of England. Her favorite things are nature, books about magic, and cuddles with her dog, Moon. In a parallel universe she lives in Hawaii, where she surfs every day until the sun sets.

Fernando Martín is an illustrator from Valencia, Spain. He graduated with a degree in media and audiovisual communication. Drawing is what he enjoys the most; it connects him with his childhood, when there were no big worries. You can see that in his cheerful illustrations inspired from infancy memories, traveling experiences, and music. He loves movies, hiking, snorkeling, and, of course, traveling.