The Knowing

4.5

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Author(s)

Ani DiFranco

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Julia Mathew

Publisher

Rise x Penguin Workshop

Genre(s)

Self-image

Age Range

Release Date

March 07, 2023

ISBN

978-0593383759

Buy This Book

From the Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, political activist, and feminist icon comes a picture book with purpose, with heart, and with words that sing.

Singer-songwriter, activist, feminist, and best-selling author Ani Di Franco has written something for her youngest audience: a picture book that invites young readers to ponder the distinction between outer forms of identity and the inner light of consciousness that is even more central to our being. In her signature folk style, Di Franco weaves a story that incorporates themes of individual power and collective responsibility. First-time illustrator Julia Mathew paints universal scenes of childhood in her family’s native India, glowing with honesty and love. Designed to be read aloud or sung, and pored over, this picture book is rich with meaningful text, poignant illustrations, and a unique message that will resonate with all.

Editor review

1 review

Bold Affirmation of Self

June 02, 2023

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

N/A

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

The words are bold from the beginning. She embraces her heritage and I love the message that what you see is a part of knowing who she is but she is so much deeper than what she looks like. It goes further into how she acts and her interests but also reiterates the message that it is a knowing you can see and she is still more than that. This book is a powerful affirmation that we are more than the sum of our parts and deeper than our skin. The illustrations support the message without distracting from the power of the words. Sometimes illustrations overshadow the story or the words and are needed because the story is weak without them, but the message and the words are powerful enough that the illustrations enhance but do not overshadow her deep knowledge of self.