Wee You-Things
Kids join the story celebrating uniqueness -- including their own
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Wee You-Things
Pros: Kids will identify with at least one of the characters -- if not several -- and will happily put themselves into the story.
Cons: The silliness of some characters may distract some kids from the important message of valuing uniqueness.
Bottom Line: Wee You-Things may not be a book that kids revisit many times, but the message is powerful.
The story is short but powerful and could work beautifully at the beginning of the school year to give kids a chance to get to know and appreciate one another and share more about themselves in a positive environment. At the end of the story, kids can complete a sentence about themselves (or a character they create) and what makes him or her unique. This activity lets kids express themselves creatively.
In this interactive, rhyming book, kids meet a variety of characters who have something that makes them unique. Some of these "you-things" can be seen -- like Bea's glasses and Lamar's scar. Some are silly -- like Grace being from outer space or Ruth's purple tooth. Some help kids see their own uniqueness or appreciate differences in others. Brad has two dads, and Dot gets scared a lot. The message is clear: "No one in the world is the same," and "without 'you-things' we'd be boring and plain."
Kids put themselves in the story by creating their own character, choosing an outfit, and taking their picture with the device's camera or choosing a drawn face. Then they get to name their "you-thing" and join the parade celebrating differences.
The fun drawings will amuse kids and introduce them to differences without making them feel uncomfortable. The range of "you-things" displayed show kids differences -- in appearance, in family structure, in likes and dislikes, and more -- all things that make each individual special. They rhyming name and difference, along with the illustrations, keep the tone light, and kids will need to discuss and think more deeply to fully grasp and appreciate the message. The extension questions are easy to miss, but are important for kids to process the story. You can get to them by holding the heart icon at the top of the screen, choosing the How It Works tab, and swiping to the last page.
Learning Rating
Community Rating
A silly and interactive (but brief) way to discuss diversity with young children.
At $2.99, it’s easy to shy away from an app with such limited use. At most, Wee You-Things will be brought out a few times per year (to start the school year, when new students arrive mid-year, and maybe if diversity related issues arise), but when I consider what I have paid for some picture books that are read even less frequently, three bucks isn’t bad! That said, while this app may serve as an engaging starting point for a lesson on diversity, it is just that, a starting point. After the three minute story is over, the app has no more to offer. However, make sure to check out “How It Works” in settings for some additional activity suggestions.
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