By Lauren Tarshis
Illustrated By: Lisa Bronson Mezoff
Last week, I attended a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion meeting that a group of parents, from the school that I work for, was holding. It was a lovely meeting and the best word I could use to describe it was human. The parents had organized a few ice breakers that encouraged the participants to share their stories. One of them was, “Something you can’t tell by looking at me…” Some of the people that shared stories were so courageous and brave. It reminded me that we are all so complex, carrying around much more than most people would ever know.
Reading Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose, written by I Survived author, Lauren Tarshis and illustrated by Lisa Bronson Mezoff, reminded me of this parent meeting. The little boy telling the story begins by sharing, “I always do everything just right. Anyone can see that.”
But then, he begins to share things that only his dog sees and knows, like what really happens to his broccoli at dinner time, how loud he can burp, and of course, that he sometimes picks his nose.
The best word I can think of to describe this simple and sweet story, is human. It invites kids to think about perspective and who they really are. I think it’s about time that we invite students, and grownups, to share about who they are-not only when they’re at their best.
