Book Review – Free to Be Me

A Beautiful Celebration of Being Yourself

Some children’s books are fun. Some are educational. And once in a while, you come across one that quietly reaches into your heart and stays there.

Free to Be Me by J. L. Givens, illustrated by Amelia Mangham, is one of those books. From the moment you open the pages, you are welcomed into a colorful, joyful world filled with adorable animal characters, thoughtful storytelling, and a message that feels both simple and genuinely necessary.

A Story About Seeing Your True Self

One of the most touching elements of this book is the mirror motif woven throughout the story. As the characters look into the mirror, they see their truest selves smiling back at them. A hippo who sees herself as a ballerina. A hedgehog proudly wearing a “Good Friend” badge. Moments like these don’t need explanation. They simply show, with great gentleness, that the gap between how the world sees us and how we see ourselves is something a lot of people carry.

I’ll be honest: when I first read those pages, I felt a little emotional. The message is so quietly delivered, and yet it carries so much weight.

A Rhythm That Makes It a Joy to Read Aloud

The story is written in a lively, bouncy rhyme that moves effortlessly from page to page, making it a natural pick for reading aloud. Young readers will love the rhythm. Adults will feel the meaning underneath it. The language is simple enough for little ones to follow, yet it opens the door wide for real conversations about identity, kindness, and what it means to belong.

Representation That Feels Like It Belongs

What sets this book apart is how naturally it includes representation. Gender identity, self-discovery, characters with different abilities and experiences. None of it is announced or over-explained. It is simply part of the world of the book, which is exactly how it should be. Children absorb that quietly, and it matters more than any lesson ever could.

A Resource That Actually Does the Work

Here is the thing about books that tackle big topics for kids. The ones that actually work are not the ones that lecture. They are the ones that let the child lead, that plant something quietly and trust the reader to find it.

Free to Be Me does exactly that. Nothing in this story is spelled out in neon letters. The elephant’s journey unfolds naturally, and children discover the meaning themselves rather than having it handed to them. That distinction matters enormously, both in a classroom setting and in a therapeutic one.

For teachers, this book is a genuinely useful tool. It fits comfortably into conversations about kindness, identity, and what it means to belong, without feeling like a lesson plan in disguise. The mirror imagery alone gives children a concrete, visual way to talk about how they see themselves versus how the world sees them. That is not always an easy conversation to start. This book starts it for you.

For counselors and therapists working with young people, the value is just as real. Children who are navigating questions of identity, or simply struggling to feel like they fit, often do not yet have the words for what they are experiencing. Stories give them that language. The visual metaphors here are gentle enough for younger children and meaningful enough for older ones, which makes this a rare resource that works across a wide age range rather than aging out quickly.

Whether it lives on a classroom shelf, in a therapy office waiting room, or gets pulled out during a quiet moment with a child who needs it, this book meets kids where they are. And it does so without ever making them feel like the subject of a lesson. The beautiful thing is that this book is for everyone. It’s not only for those who are struggling to feel different, but it is also for those who don’t understand. It helps us all be better advocates and allies.

Illustrations That Reward Every Reread

Amelia Mangham’s hand-painted watercolour illustrations are stunning. The colours are vibrant and deliberate, the characters expressive and full of personality. But what I loved most is how much there is to discover the more you look. I noticed new details on my third read that I had completely missed before, little expressions, background moments, things tucked quietly into corners of the page. Each spread genuinely feels like a small piece of art, and the sunset scene, with its gorgeous warm colours, is nothing short of magical.

And then there is this little one. Bundled up in that rainbow scarf, eyes closed, just wholly and quietly themselves. This illustration stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw it. Amelia has a gift for capturing emotion in the simplest moments, and this single image says more than a paragraph ever could.

I am lucky enough to be on Amelia’s calendar for next year, and I cannot wait to work with her on an upcoming project. If this book is any indication of what she brings to a story, I am very excited.

A Book Worth Sharing

This is a book for classrooms, therapy rooms, gift bags, and bedside tables. For children who feel a little too much, or not quite enough. And honestly, for the adults who love them too.

Free to Be Me is coming soon to Amazon and other major retailers here in the US. J. L. Givens is a children’s author and poet based in Scotland, and you can keep up with updates and find out more at www.jlgivens.co.uk.

Definitely one to watch for. I’m 41, and I want this book for ME. It speaks to my heart. This book is ★★★★★!