NEARLY EXACTLY ALMOST LIKE ME
By: Jennifer Bradbury
Illustrated by: Pearl AuYeung
Published: February 11, 2025
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Antheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
Fiction
Two brothers have a lot in common, but also have some pretty obvious differences. They both love playing in the park. They both run to the ice cream truck after Mom says yes to ice cream. And, they both don’t like it when someone hogs the slide at the park. They are also alike in that their parents first met them through a photograph and waited a long time to hold them. But when the slide hogger hears they are brothers, he isn’t so sure because they don’t look anything alike.
Children in adoptive families will relate to the brothers in this story and the possible side-eye glances they get from people when they say they are siblings. Dev and his brother may like a lot of the same things, but they look quite different from each other. Dev is short, and his brother is tall. Dev has really dark skin, and his brother has a lighter tone of dark skin. But, they are both loved by their parents just like any other kids are.
The cute illustrations show the two brothers growing up and both disliking baths, yet loving to swim. Kids will relate to both brothers eating too much Valentine’s candy and throwing up all over the carpet. Families come in all different varieties, but the common denominator is love. Bradbury, the mom of two kids who look nothing like each other, wrote this story after getting numerous comments from other kids about their differences.
Even though it isn’t said, it is implied that the doubt from kids about Dev and his brother being siblings and the constant questions can be hurtful. This book is helpful for families preparing for adoption as well as for kids to learn empathy and not ask questions that might be considered rude. Remind kids by reading this book that the most important thing in families is that we are loved and cared for, not what everyone looks like.
Jennifer Bradbury is the author of the middle grade novel River Runs Deep and of several critically acclaimed young adult novels, including Take, A Moment Comes, Wrapped, and her debut, Shift—which Kirkus Reviews called “fresh, absorbing, compelling” in a starred review. Shift was picked as an ALA and a School Library Journal Best Book for Young Adults and is also on numerous state reading lists. She is also a rock climber and teacher in Burlington, Washington, where she lives with her family.
Pearl AuYeung is the illustrator of Nearly Almost Exactly Like Me by Jennifer Bradbury and the author-illustrator of The Best Kind of Mooncake, which received the Irma Black Silver Medal. She also loves pickles and designing toys. Born in Hong Kong, raised in Shanghai, she now lives in Los Angeles.
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The perfect art for a brother’s room can be found HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Book Review, Children's books, Jennifer Bradbury, Pearl AuYeung, adoption, brothers, fiction, siblings