ABOUT THE BOOK
I am NOT Sophie!
Written by Robyn Hodess
Illustrated by Terry Kole
Ages: 0-3 | 14 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Kids! (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891383838
Publisher’s Book Summary: Sophie is a little girl with a BIG imagination! Every day, she wakes up and decides to be a different animal. On Sunday, she pounces and roars through the house like a tiger. On Monday, she stomps and trumpets like a mighty elephant. Throughout the week, she is a slithering snake, a bouncy monkey, and even a scary alligator! By the end of the week, Sophie discovers that being herself is the best adventure of all.
Filled with playful illustrations and a heartwarming message about self-acceptance, I am NOT Sophie! encourages young readers to embrace their own unique magic—because sometimes, being YOU is the most wonderful thing of all!
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MY REVIEW
Many adults may have been in a similar situation with an imaginative child; the child decides they are actually someone or something else and stays in character for an extended period of time. In Sophie’s case, she spends each day of the week being a different animal. On Sunday she “pounced and roared” like a tiger, Monday she “stomped and trumpeted” like an elephant, and so on throughout the week. It is not until Saturday rolls around that she decides she is Sophie after all. Observant readers may notice the various animal stuffies in Sophie’s bedroom when the story begins. A snake is wrapped around the curtain rod, a colorful bird sits on a shelf next to a tiger, etc. Each of these toys seems to inspire one of Sophie’s transformations. Readers may also notice some of the items in her toy box that later become part of a costume - a green pool noodle that serves as an alligator’s tail, or a long gray sock that makes an excellent elephant’s trunk for example. The descriptive verbs used to describe how Sophie behaves as each animal - slither, trumpet, flitter, and so on - are emphasized in the text with various fonts that make the words pop off the page. Even youngsters who are not yet reading independently may have fun recognizing those words in their distinctive styles. The illustrations capture the ingenious ways that Sophie brings each of her animal personas to life, but they also show her mother’s patience. She calmly acknowledges Sophie’s identity as a snake or a monkey while going about yard work, laundry, and other chores. That loving acceptance is as reassuring as Max coming home from visiting the Wild Things to find his supper waiting for him, still warm. Adult readers, be warned - Sophie has so much fun becoming each animal and her costumes are so amusing, there may be some imitation going on in your home after you share this book with your own wild thing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robyn Hodess is a lifelong creative with a passion for storytelling through art. For over thirty-five years, she has worked across all mediums, from graphic design and botanical illustration to painting and encaustic. While raising her three daughters—Erin, Hannah, and Sophie—as a stay-at-home mom, she infused creativity into everyday life, finding inspiration in the wonder and imagination of childhood. Now, she is bringing that same passion to the world of children’s books, crafting stories that spark curiosity, joy, and self-discovery.
Through her heartfelt narratives, she hopes to inspire young minds to embrace creativity and see the magic in the world around them. Robyn currently lives in Park City, Utah, with her husband, dog Huey, a house full of art supplies, and a heart full of stories waiting to be told.
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Thank you for your kind words.
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