*received for free from netgalley for honest review* really cute dog book, i had the audiobook but have been looking to find the print copy to see the artwork!

Oh my gosh, so adorable! I'm certain the pictures in the picturebook would be wonderful, but I had the audiobook to review - which is spectacular. If possible, I'd suggest folks purchase both so they can listen, read, and look together.

Christian Trimmer's What Are You? is aimed at small kids, but the message is timeless. What someone looks like on the outside doesn't give us insight into their likes and skills! Race, culture, and gender don't determine these things. Dedication to a skill helps makes you good at it, and time spent participating is all anyone needs if they like something.

Narrator Ramon de Ocampo does an amazing job with the audio version. So many voices! Funny, cute, and thoroughly charming, Mr. de Ocampo will grab your attention from the get-go.

Kudos to the author for the afterword with examples, suggestions, conversation starters. Beautifully done.

What a fantastic story where the story exposes two heavy topics (race and identity) that can be hard to discuss with children. I felt the story did a great job attempting to do this by asking a simple but heavy question. I had the pleasure of listening to the story and I really enjoyed being read the story because it gave my imagination an opportunity that kids thrive at very well. In this case, I was able to visualize a puggle that could speak French and is good at the hula hoop not because half of his identity is notorious for excelling at those things but rather because they like it, practice it, and they are themselves.

So, I was able to read Who Are You via a NetGalley audiobook and, while I’ve only listened to a children’s book narrated in this way once, I have to admit that it felt very incomplete since I was unable to physically see the book while listening. And while I don’t think this is always the case, as some children’s books are actually pretty phenomenal as a standalone audiobook, it was pretty clear to me very early on that Who Are You is not one of them.

That said, this is a pretty fantastic companion to a children’s book. I think there’s a lot of worth in the idea of having very engaging audio to go along with a book that a kid has directly in front of them. There are tons of fun nuances that it can add.

Additionally, this book has some great themes that are introduced in a subtle way that allows for the introduction of some great discussion conversation to have with kids as they get older and are ready for it.

What Are You is a wonderful way to start conversations with young ones surrounding individual personal identities. Trimmer uses a conversation between a puggle and two poodles to illustrate how stereotypes can be problematic and limiting. The audio version of this book was excellently executed. The sound effect made for a well rounded listening experience. While I am curious to see the physical book and illustrations, I did not feel like I was missing out because the narration was so well done.

Thank you Net Galley, Christian Trimmer, and Macmillian Audio for my advanced copy! My opinions are my own.

Plot - 5
Writing and Editing - 5
Character Development - 5
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 5
Final Score - 5

What Are You? is an adorable children's book about a group of dogs who meet and discover what makes them alike and different. I liked that it focused on what makes each other unique and that it's not related to culture. It includes great tips for conversation at the end. The audiobook narration and sound effects are very fun.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC.

The book had a lot of teachable moments and was a cute little book, as well. Picture books like this should be enjoyed just that way, as a picture book. I would have loved to see the illustrations and I think that they are important to children when putting together the story. I really enjoyed the suggestions for class discussions at the end of the audiobook. They would be great for new teachers or teachers new to teaching about acceptance.

4.5⭐ rounded up for the audiobook

It's a nice story geared to children aged 3~6 showing how not all family's look the same. There were some unrealistic assumptions like 'all pugs are good at hula hoop' and 'all beagles are good on pogo sticks,' which gives a lesson on how people, or animals, shouldn't be judged by what we assume other's know how to do based on their background. It takes practice in order to be good at things we enjoy doing.

There were some nice tips for caregivers to help children learn about race, culture, identity and stereotypes and how they may vary. It's always okay to ask questions in a respectful manner.

It was nicely narrated by Ramon de Ocampo for 9 minutes. The added sound effects really brought the story to a whole new level.

Wow!! What a fantastic book for teaching children about differences and stereotypes. I’m a 3rd grade teacher so I was curious to see what this book was about. I wanted to see if it is a book I could use in my classroom, to use as a teachable moment for my class. Geared towards children, I thought this book touched on some very difficult topics to otherwise bring up on their own. But this is a wonderful ice breaker and really explains about our physical differences. At the end of the book, it gave you discussion questions to guide your lesson on and it was wonderful. I really enjoyed this book a lot.For teachers and for parents alike, this is such a perfect way to introduce differences in each other.

A very cute story that my six year old daughter loved listening to!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the #gifted alc. all opinions are my own.

Audio, 9m 13s Print version illustrations by Mike Curator

Delightful. Even better, it provides a fun yet meaningful learning moment. Three dogs meet, two poodles and a puggle, a pug/beagle cross. Having been asked many times "What kind of dog is that?" about my own corgi mix, I definitely related to the question being asked of the puggle. How it answers is the key to an important discussion of what makes us different but the same.

Although I had the audio version, I had to chuckle imagining the puggle hula hooping or showing its prowness at pogo sticking. I may have to get my hands on a hard copy just for those illustrations. That aside, I really liked how these virtual dogs, so alike yet different, talked it out and discovered similarities despite their different appearances. That's good advice for all of us, child and adult as well, I think.

Actually, that's one of the prompts/suggestions given after the dogs go off to do whatever it is dogs do. My own dog isn't telling. The suggestions provide a gateway for parents and other adults to approach discussing the same issues with their children, what makes us different doesn't mean we aren't all the same. The prompts encourage openness, listening, and remind us to both listen and talk to children, using their natural curiosity to reach out to them on questions of race and cultures. I liked that for each basic idea, btw, follow-up questions are suggested, a real help to those who might struggle as to how best to approach such discussions. The key is to emphasize our sameness.

Thanks #NetGalley and kudos to #MacmillanAudio for this short but, oh, so meaningful production. That may own dog, who tends to ignore shows featuring real dogs barking, perked up and looked at me questioningly speaks highly of the production value of this audio, I might add. Bottom line, a valuable offering from Macmillan Audio from their #MacmillanYoungReaders division and #RoaringBrookBooks.

Cute and quick audio story about dogs learning diversity and facing stereotypes. Would love this as a picture book, they sound adorable and I would like to see a hula hooping puggle

Book Title: What Are You?
Author: Christian Trimmer
Narrator: Ramon de Campo
Publisher: Macmillan Audio~ Macmillan Young Listeners
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pub Date: October 18, 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars

This is a delightful teachable children’s story.
Children will love the sound effects and parents will love the message.

Q: What are you?
A: I am a dog.
Q: No, what are you?

Story is a conversation between three dogs. One is a puggle a mix bred ~ thus the question: Who are you?
The question is asked by two pure bred poodles.

The conversation is about being different, and expectation of what others think we are good at.
Author offers suggestions to parents on how they can incorporate this conversation into what happens in their children’s daily lives.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio~ Macmillan Young Listeners for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 18, 2022