The Me I Choose To Be

Contributors

By Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

By Regis and Kahran Bethencourt

On Sale
Oct 19, 2021
Page Count
40 pages
ISBN-13
9780316461542

In this “exquisite” (Shelf Awareness) “affirming” (Kirkus), and “empowering visual essay” (Publishers Weekly) the bestselling author of I Love My Hair! joins forces with the dynamic photography duo behind Glory to create a stunning celebration of the many things you can be!

What will you choose to be? 
A free spirit? 
A weaver of words? 
A star dancing across the night sky? 
A limitless galaxy? 

The possibilities are endless in this uplifting ode to the power of potential. With lyrical text by bestselling author Natasha Anastasia Tarpley and images by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt—the team behind CreativeSoul Photography—each page of The Me I Choose To Be is an immersive call for self-love that highlights the inherent beauty of all Black and brown children. 

  • Praise for The Me I Choose to Be:
    A 2021 Shelf Awareness Book of the Year
    A 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book Pick


    "Imagination, ingenuity and passion collide on the pages of this inspiring tribute to children of color. The poetic composition from Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (I Love My Hair!The Harlem Charade) coupled with the ingenious photography of Regis and Kahran Bethencourt (Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty) results in an exquisite book that trumpets the magic and unlimited potential of young lives...The Me I Choose to Be is a striking book with a powerful question for everyone: Who is the me you choose to be? "
    Jen Forbus, Shelf Awareness
  • "A mantra-esque refrain unites Tarpley’s rhyming statements throughout, encouraging readers to embrace their multitudes....An empowering visual essay."
     
    Publishers Weekly

Formats and Prices

Price

$18.99

Price

$24.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $18.99 $24.99 CAD

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

About the Author

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley started writing when she was seven years old, and from that young age she understood that stories could change the world. She is the author of the bestselling picture book I Love My Hair!Bippity Bop Barbershop, and The Me I Choose to Be, among other titles. Natasha is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and is the cofounder of Voonderbar! Media, a project seeking to expand the depictions of children of color in media. This is the fourth book in her Keyana series, which includes KEYANA LOVES HER FAMILY, KEYANA LOVES HER FRIEND, and KEYANA LOVES SCHOOL. She lives with her family in Chicago, Illinois.

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Creating images and stories that speak to the hearts of children and those that guide them is her greatest joy. Charnelle currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband. In addition to the Keyana series, she is also the illustrator of Remember to Dream, Ebere; The Real Santa; Just Like Mama; and many other titles.

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Regis and Kahran Bethencourt

About the Author

Regis and Kahran Bethencourt are the husband-and-wife duo and the imaginative forces behind CreativeSoul Photography. With more than ten years of working with hundreds of children, families, and brands, they specialize in child and lifestyle photography while incorporating authentic visual storytelling.  They are the photographers behind The Me I Choose to Be, written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, and the New York Times bestseller Glory. They live in Atlanta, Georgia. You can find them online at http://creativesoulphoto.com, on Instagram @creativesoulphoto, and on Twitter @csphoto_atl.
 

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