Rockstar Tours: THE ONLY ME (Marissa Bader), Guest Post & Giveaway! ~US ONLY

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE ONLY ME by Marissa Bader Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE ONLY ME

Author: Marissa Bader & Arlene Soto (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: August 25, 2022

Publisher: Marissa Bader

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 35

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

Be the best you!

Stella and Paige are 7-year-old fraternal twins who don’t look alike and
have very different personalities and interests. Yet even so,
people constantly compare them or comment about how strange it is that they’re
not more similar. This has Stella feeling frustrated. They may be twins, but
that doesn’t make them the same person.

Stella wishes people would see her for who she is, and not just as “Stella and
Paige” or as “one of the twins.” All of the comparing and contrasting
leaves Stella confused about her own identity—who is she
outside of her sibling relationship? She also wonders if perhaps she doesn’t
measure up to her sister, Paige.

Can Stella find a way to accept and value herself for who she is, and realize
that she and Paige can each be their own, special and unique people, and still
be twins?

• Perfect for kids who are trying to find where they
  belong.
• Not just for twins; The Only Me teaches
  the importance of honoring, accepting and celebrating our differences and
  unique selves in all kinds of relationships.
• Great resource to help young readers understand their
  value and worth.
• Helpful for kids struggling with identity and
  self-esteem challenges.
• Ideal for ages 4-8 (or even 4-10).

 

Reviews
“This book is so fabulous to point out that we are all unique and different
in our own special way. Truly such a helpful book for young readers to
understand we are all different, we all have our strengths and that our kids
can shine in their own special light. I love how this book also teaches young
readers of acceptance, inclusion, confidence and growth. Very well written and
a positive message and reminder to all!” – Sarajane, parent of two

“The Only Me is a sweet story about a girl named Stella exploring her identity
and finding her strengths. As a twin, she feels like she is constantly compared
to her sister and sometimes feels less than. She realizes that she has her own
identity and with that her own special gifts to offer the world. Kids of all
ages will see parts of themselves in her and will love reading this story. Her
voice sounds like any young child’s and will be relatable for many little ones.
A great story with a great lesson.”
– Dana, parent of two and teacher

“A beautifully written, kid-friendly story that so eloquently reminds
all of us of our own extraordinary uniqueness. It’s a book that I could read
over and over to both my children and for myself — empowering humans of all
ages to celebrate and embrace our differences.” – Michelle, parent of two
and therapist

“Marissa Bader’s book is the ultimate endorsement for embracing
difference and celebrating children’s unique selves.” – Kathleen West,
parent and author

Reading this made me light up and smile! Being a mom of 4 girls, two
different ages and then a set of identical twins, this just hits home. I love
how the author gave examples of things each child succeeds at. This is such a
useful book to teach my girls how they are all unique in their own way. I am so
excited for bedtime with this book! – Michelle, parent of 4 (twins and two
singletons)

Guest Post:

What was your inspiration for writing your book?

From the time my now 6-year-old fraternal twins were born, people often referred to them as “the twins” rather than by their individual names. Soon, being “the twins”, as opposed to Mila and Grace, became their entire identity. This, compounded by people constantly comparing them to one another, led them to feel frustrated, unseen, confused about their own identity, and inferior to one another. But this problem is not limited only to twins – this happens in all kinds of relationships, from different-aged siblings, to cousins, to friends, to classmates, and so on.

Recently I researched and wrote an article for Lucie’s List about the importance of treating kids like their own people, and learned that “when we treat our children like individuals, we show them that we honor and appreciate them for who they are; in turn, this helps boost their sense of identity, confidence, pride and self-assurance.”

What an incredible opportunity and responsibility we caregivers have — to help grow and shape our children’s sense of value and self-esteem. The Only Me is a reminder to all caregivers that treating our children uniquely, and praising their individual pursuits, personalities and traits, goes a long way in helping them feel respected, loved and secure throughout their lives. In addition, this book aims to help all young readers understand they are worthy and valuable just as they are — even if, like The Only Me’s main character, Stella, they’re constantly being measured up to someone else.

The overarching goal of this book is to help young children — not just twins, but all kids — learn that they have value and an identity as individuals, and to honor, appreciate, accept and celebrate their uniqueness and differences.

 

About Marissa Bader:

Marissa Bader is a
Minneapolis-based writer who loves writing about mental health and parenthood, and
currently serves as the Twins Editor and mental health writer at Lucie’s List (a survival guide for new
parents). Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including
Psychology Today, HuffPost Parents and Twiniversity.com,
to name a few. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s
degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Marissa’s first children’s book, The Only Me, debuts August, 2022. When not writing, Marissa enjoys
dancing, being outdoors and spending time with her husband and their three
daughters, a set of twins and their singleton big sister.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

 

About Arlene Soto:

Arlene Soto
is the owner of Intricate
Designs. She is an illustrator, formatter, graphic and web designer based
in Denver, CO. Her background is in Fine Art, and she has a BFA in Sustainable
Interior Design. She has been happily working with children’s book authors to
bring their stories to life through art and design. She aims to focus her
portfolio on projects that center on diversity and inclusivity.

She is also
a homeschooling mother to three girls and along with her husband they garden,
have chickens, 2 dogs, and a cat to complete their wonderfully busy life.

 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of THE ONLY ME, US Only.

Ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway