Kids Like Me
An Inclusive Character-Based Colouring Book
by Melissa Deschênes

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Kids Like Me is an inclusive, character-based bilingual French and English colouring book. It features detailed illustrations of diverse youth paired with simple, fun character stories. Kids are invited to colour pages and read about children with a wide range of physical and mental abilities, gender identities, body diversity, cultures and religions, family dynamics, and socio-economic backgrounds. With stories that encourage the act of giving, sharing, and respecting nature, Kids Like Me promotes acceptance, kindness, and positivity. Children and parents alike will either see themselves represented, or be given the chance to learn about people from different walks of life. Short character descriptions in both French and English help children practice their reading in both languages, while the colouring book pages invite adults and youth to colour together, ask questions, and learn to recognize the beauty in our differences.

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Melissa is a queer francophone woman who grew up in an environment where she wasn’t allowed to be herself. That upbringing inspired her passion to help kids feel seen and amazing just the way they are. Melissa lives in Sudbury, Ontario. She lives in a trilingual household (French, English, and Arabic). The family dog, Opel, is also trilingual…at least when it comes to the most important word of all: “dinner.”

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Contributors

Author

Melissa Deschênes

Editor

Sabine Gorecki

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