Description Who am I? Me! I'm a girl with a cute bob haircut and a pink T-shirt. I am always "me," but who I am to others changes depending on who is looking at me. What do I mean? Open the book and see. On the left stands me, and on the right stand many different people. To a boy, I'm a girl. To a baby, I'm a big sister. To an older brother, I'm a little sister. To my mom, I'm a daughter, and to my dad, I'm also a daughter. To my friend Mina, I'm a friend. To my teacher, I'm a student. To a dog, I'm a human. To a doctor, I'm a patient. To an astronaut, I'm an Earthling. Seeing how many names I'm called, it seems like I'm not just one person, but many people at once. And depending on what I'm called, I seem to change too. But no matter what different names people call me, the fact that I am me never changes. As you read this book with me, you'll come to understand that I am just one single me — and that every version of me that others see is still, truly, me. A Book That Looks at the Relationship Between Me and Others The child who calls me a girl looks like a boy to me. If that child and I become close, we could become best friends. And if that child happens to be my aunt's son, then he'd be my cousin. The baby who calls me "big sister" looks like a little sibling to me, and my friend Mina is a friend to me too, when I look at her. To the people who know me, I am one important, unique person. But to a stranger, I'm just one person among many. When I reach out to someone and show them who I am, forming a relationship, we become important to each other. As you read this book, think about which part of you best represents who you are, what the people around you mean to you, and why the relationships between you and others are so precious. A Simple and Beautiful Story of "Me," Written by Poet Shuntaro Tanikawa When do children first begin to think about their own existence? Thinking about oneself and truly seeing oneself is an essential part of growing up. But children today don't have many chances to reflect on themselves — from an early age, they spend so much time memorizing and absorbing given knowledge that there's little room left for self-reflection. There are many ways to help children grow in knowledge and body, but it's much harder to help their hearts grow. For the heart to grow, it's important to look honestly at oneself and think about the people we're connected to. Me will be a precious companion to your child on this journey. Renowned Japanese poet Shuntaro Tanikawa sings a song of a child's own existence through Me. His spare, refined words gently help children feel that "I" am, in myself, a precious and beautiful being. They'll also come to understand that you, I, and everyone around us are each unique individuals with our own thoughts — and learn to respect one another. The playful, childlike illustrations by Shinta Cho pair beautifully with Tanikawa's writing. Why not read Me, the first book in the Together Series, with your child, and take some time afterward to talk about what "me" means to each of you? You may be surprised at how a new topic of conversation comes up every time you read it. A Note to Readers of Me — From the Translator Who is "me"? And what does "me" even mean? It seems like a simple question, but it's surprisingly hard to answer. This picture book offers an answer to that very question. Open the book, and on the left is "me," while on the right are the many different people who see "me." "I" am always the same, but the words used to describe me change depending on who's looking. The book shows that depending on our relationship with someone, the way they refer to us — and even how they think and feel about us — changes as well. When I first saw this picture book, I was struck with surprise, because it reminded me of the poem "Me" by poet Kim Kwang-gyu: "Looking closely, I am / my father's son / my son's father / my older brother's younger brother / my younger brother's older brother / my wife's husband / ...(continued)..."