By Myself!

Joining the Feelings & Firsts series: a young child humorously battles for independence while getting ready for the day. Joining the Feelings & Firsts series: a toddler humorously asserts her independence while getting ready in the morning, only to be met with one frustration after another. When she finds an opportunity to help her big sister get dressed, she accepts that they can help each other. Adults and young children alike will delight in this young child’s relatable drive for autonomy. AGES: 0 to 4 AUTHOR: Sumana Seeboruth writes books inspired by the natural world and her two young children. A night owl, she is most likely to be found writing when her husband and children are fast asleep. She loves music and a noisy, happy house! Sumana is based in London, UK. Maribel Castells is an illustrator from Mallorca, Spain. In 2020 she took part in PBChat Mentorship Program and was Daniel Wiseman’s mentee. Her work was shortlisted for the Illustrators’ Exhibition at the 2021 Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Her creative voice is somewhere between folk imagery and cut-paper aesthetic language, through a bold, mixed-media style with quirky color choices and retro vibes. SELLING POINTS: . REALISTIC AND HELPFUL: Written in a toddler’s voice, the book realistically reflects young children’s thought processes and models language children can use in similar situations . SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Uses empathy and humor to portray a young child’s drive for independence while getting ready for the day . INCLUSIVE: Portrays a main character with a cochlear implant