I was thrilled to recently discover Hyewon Yum’s newest book, Toto, and order it for my library. This charming title covers a topic rarely seen in picture books: birthmarks. The unnamed narrator of this book has a pink birthmark on her forehead she refers to as “Toto.”
Family and strangers react to Toto, each in their own way, prompting the narrator to explain, “I know Toto makes me special but I don’t know why.” The attention Toto receives is not always wanted, so when the narrator’s mother suggests bangs to conceal Toto in preparation for starting school, the narrator agrees. With most of Toto safely tucked away behind her hair, she meets a new friend at school. But when hanging upside-down on the monkey bars exposes Toto, the new friend is shocked, though not in the way you might think.
The expressive, gray-toned pencil illustrations with pops of pink, beautifully capture the narrator’s emotions and experiences. An author’s note discusses the inspiration for the story, and is accessible to the child reader.
I love this book for the sensitive, but not heavy-handed, portrayal of a girl with a prominent birthmark, the balance of humor and heart, and the touching, delightful twist at the end. Toto promises to be an entertaining read aloud, just right for generating thought-provoking conversation.
I absolutely LOVE this book! My husband has a “toto.” He has shared with me the self-consciousness he often felt as a child, and I wish this book had existed then so he could feel seen and understood. Unfortunately, he still experiences rude remarks from strangers as an adult. I’m so glad this book exists now!
I’ve heard the author read Toto aloud, and it is absolutely gorgeous! Such a beautiful book!