I Am Enough

Why It's On Our Shelf

The central message - I am enough exactly as I am - is something every child needs to hear repeatedly. Grace Byers wrote this originally as a letter to herself, which gives it authenticity. The text moves from self-acceptance to extending that acceptance to others, which is the natural progression. The illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo are diverse and beautiful, showing children of different backgrounds all deserving of love and respect. What makes this work is that it doesn't say you're enough because of what you do or achieve, just that you're enough because you exist. That's a radical message in a world that constantly tells kids they need to be more.