At the center of every success story, you will find a mentor. In a world full of challenges, a mentor can play a pivotal role in a child’s development. Mentors aren’t just there to give advice (though they often do); they’re also friends, cheerleaders, and a source of inspiration. Above all else, mentors are the ones we trust. With their debut children’s book, ARE YOU MY MENTOR, authors Irma and Markeith Porter explore the profound significance that mentors play in the lives of children.

ARE YOU MY MENTOR opens with a touching foreword, where the authors share their reflections on the importance of mentors and the challenges that every parent encounters: “I tried my best to be a proper mentor to my children, but that is not always enough.” From there, the story follows a curious character as they embark on a quest to find their mentor. Our protagonist travels from page to page, asking various animals along the way if they fit the bill. Each animal responds with a quip showcasing their unique traits, all the while pointing the protagonist in the direction of Mr. Human. Accompanied by a workbook section at the end, the book encourages self-reflection and creative expression and prompts readers to continue exploring the concept of mentorship.

ARE YOU MY MENTOR earns an A for intention, but the overall presentation is, unfortunately, incredibly lacking. While Sabrina Arciniega’s simple pencil illustrations are a bold, creative choice, they exist plainly on large white pages, bordered by an ocean of negative space. A splash of color would go a long way to engaging and sustaining the audience’s attention. As it stands, however, the small text and monochrome imagery give the package an unfinished look that stands in stark contrast to what young readers have come to expect from their favorite children’s titles.

While an element of artistic intent needs to be considered when critiquing formatting and layout, an abundance of spelling and grammatical errors (missing letters and misplaced punctuation abound) in a book with such a low word count are incredibly difficult to overlook. As a potential introduction to words and ideas, children’s titles bear an extra responsibility. There is nothing here that a solid professional edit wouldn’t correct. As it stands, however, the thoughtful message behind ARE YOU MY MENTOR is ultimately overshadowed by the distracting details.

With ARE YOU MY MENTOR, authors Irma and Markeith Porter offer an engaging narrative exploring the profound impact of mentors on children’s lives that ultimately falls short.

~James Weiskittel for IndieReader