Only Me

Be the best you!

Stella and Paige are 7-year-old fraternal twins who don't look or act alike.

They have very different personalities and interests. Despite that, people constantly compare them or comment about how strange it is that they're not similar. They may be twins, but they're not the same person!

Stella wishes people would see her for who she is. She is tired of being referred to as "Stella and Paige," or "one of the twins." This treatment continuously causes her to feel frustrated and question her importance.

All of the comparing and contrasting leaves Stella confused about her identity and wondering who she is outside of her sibling relationship. Sadly, she also wonders if she doesn't measure up to her sister, Paige, the more outgoing twin.

Can Stella find a way to accept and value herself for who she is?

Will she realize they can each have their own unique personality and still be twins?

Why readers will fall in love with The Only Me:

• Sense of belonging: Perfect for kids trying to find their identity and figure out where they belong.
• Confidence-building: Serves as a wonderful resource to help young readers with feelings of value and worth, while being relatable with self-esteem challenges.
• Understanding differences: Helps foster the importance of honoring, accepting, and celebrating our differences and unique selves in all kinds of relationships.
• Sibling relationships: Provides a great foundation for children to learn about sibling dynamics and their role in the family.

Editorial Reviews

"An engaging celebration of self-love from the perspective of a twin. Stella and Paige's world is filled with diverse friends, neighbors, and teammates, heightening the theme that all people are unique in their looks, interests, styles, and abilities. The short sentences and accessible vocabulary make this a good choice for newly independent readers." - Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2022 issue 

"...Stella is such an adorable character who just wants to be seen for who she is and not compared to her twin the way so many people tend to do. The illustrations are colorful and adorable and fit perfectly with the storyline. Marissa Bader has written a grand book and I can't wait to see what other works will follow." - Tiffany Ferrell, Reader's Favorite 5-Star Review

"In this lovely, first-person story about sisterhood, readers are encouraged to think about what it means to be yourself and value the things that make you unique-even when others can't see past appearances...Stella's narrative is endearingly honest, and readers can learn from observing her strategies to cope with low self-esteem and the challenges that come with other people's assumptions. The language is simple but expressive...Bright and colorful illustrations bring the story to life and add visual cues to help readers spot and analyze differences." - Dr. Jen Harrison, The Children's Book Review