Book Review: Not Fat Because I Wanna Be

Not Fat Because I Wanna Be

Author: LaNiyah Bailey and Latoya White

Illustrated by: Laura Perez Ricaud

Published by: Camp Pope Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-461006763

2010

This is a wonderful easy reader chapter book written by 6 year old LaNiya Bailey based on experiences and feelings that she has dealt with in her young life because of medical issues. It is an honest chapter by chapter dialog about teasing, bullying, tears, and what it is like to be different from the the fictional character, Jess's point of view.

The character experiences lack of friends, mean taunting, and teasing because of being bigger ( the kids called her fat) than her classmates. Even encouragement from the president's wife doesn't help because the character eats healthy, exercises, and has loving family support. It points out how what shows on the outside  is not what a person is really like on the inside.

This author has done a fabulous job of telling it like it is from a child's point of view. It is a heartwarming and positive book that will encourage other children who are dealing with being different. But it will also open the eyes of children who may see themselves as the one who does the teasing.

I loved this book. It was honest, sincere, hopeful yet sad. The sad part is the truth, that our young people are being teased and taunted by other peers and that is so hard on self esteem. This book points out how children can have another point of view by seeing what it is like for the character. The author has done a great job relating real life for the reader. Wonderful job.

Note: I apologize that this did not get posted correctly on August 7th as part of World of Ink Tours. I am sorry for any inconvenience that caused for the reader.