LIKE by Annie Barrows

by Kelly Carey

​With a charming child narrator whose no-nonsense and humorous approach is equal parts endearing and funny, Like (Chronicle Books, 2022) by Annie Barrows and illustrated by Leo Espinosa encourages readers to wonder how they relate to the things around them and points out that they have more in common with each other than anything else on Earth.

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​Plenty of books have been written extolling how much folks have in common, but Like does it in the most wonderful kid-centric way. It kicks off comparing a person to a tin can. That will have kids giggling from the jump. Then it raises the stakes by asking kids to compare themselves to a swimming pool, a hyena, and mushrooms. But don’t be fooled, this is more than just a humorous text. This picture book offers up a serious heartwarming message of community as it celebrates our common human traits. Afterall, we are way more Like each other than we are like a can of tomato sauce. 

On Writing: 
Like is a wonderful mentor text for exploring the use of first person. Barrows smartly makes her first-person narrator a child to match her reading audience but then elevates her text with wonderfully nuanced dialogue. Her main character speaks with innocent humor, insightful naivete, and fully recognizable kid-speak. The beauty of using a child narrator is that your target reader will instantly relate, and the story can convey lofty and complex topics in a clear and entertaining way (well, if you do it right and Barrows certainly does!). If you want to make sure your child characters ring true, Barrow’s text will be a great tool. ​

This is also a great text to study if you have opted to pepper your manuscript with a few thoughts in parentheses. Barrows has used this method sparingly but with great results. 

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To learn more about author Annie Barrows visit her here. 
To learn more about illustrator Leo Espinosa visit him here.