I'm like you, You are like me

You and I are alike in many ways.

We may be the same age 
or live on the same street.

We may go to the same school 
or even have the same name.

We are different from each other, too. 
Our hair may be brown or blond or red or black.
Our eyes may be blue or brown or green. 
Our skin may be dark or light or in between.

It's fun to find ways I`m like you
And you're like me.

It's fun to find ways we're different.

One of us is bigger, and the other is smaller.

One of us has curly hair, the other has straight hair.

I like my body and how I look.

My body is just right for me.

Your body is just right for you, too.

I was a baby once, and so were you.

It's fun to look at our baby pictures.

See how little we used to be!

I've learned how to do some things by myself, 
and so have you.

We can both tie our shoes.

We can both ride a bike.

We can both write our names.

We have different families.

Some families have many people.

Some families have few people.

We celebrate holidays and special days.

Sometimes we celebrate the same holidays.

Sometimes we celebrate different holidays.

Sometimes we celebrate the same holidays 
in different ways.

Even though we're different in some ways, 
we can enjoy being together.

We can show that we like and welcome each other.

We can learn to accept each other.

I feel accepted when you invite me 
to your home to play.

Or when you want to be my buddy 
as we line up for playground time.

I feel accepted when you say I'm your friend.

We can listen to each other.

This is a good way to get to know

each other better.

We can learn more ways

We're alike and different.

You listen when I tell you a story. 
I listen to your stories, too.

I listen when you tell me 
about something important
that happened to you.

We can tell each other 
about things we like 
and things we don't like.

We can try our best to understand each other.

I can tell you how I'm feeling.

You can tell me how you're feeling, too.

We can tell each other what we want and what we need.

Sometimes we want the same things.

Sometimes we want different things.

We can try our best to be kind to each other.

Even when we don't agree with each other.

Even when we feel tired or upset.

It's unkind to make fun of each other
or call each other names.

This is how feelings get hurt.

Let's be nice instead.

We're nice to each other when we hold hands.

When we say "Please" and "Thank you."

When we take turns.

When we give each other help.

Sometimes we work together to get things done.

We cooperate with each other.

We cooperate when we build a sand castle together.

We cooperate when we play a game
all the way to the end, without fighting.

When we cooperate,
we can do almost anything!

We can play together and work together.

We can be friends.

I'm like you, you're like me.

But we're not exactly the same.

That's why I like you 
and you like me.

Cindy Gainer

I'm like you, you are like me

Minneapolis, Free Spirit Publishing, 1998