Miki the meerkat is happy to hear a new family is moving in next door at the zoo and he will soon have a new friend named Raffa that is just like him! Only, Raffa isn’t like him at all. Raffa is a tall giraffe and she and Miki find it hard to see any similarities. They are both just so different. 

When Miki can’t get to sleep, he waits for his mom to doze off before climbing out of his burrow to look at the moon. As he climbs out, Miki sees that Raffa is already out there. Raffa also can’t sleep and also enjoys looking at the moon. Some of Miki and Raffa’s similarities quickly become apparent as lightning flashes, thunder booms, and they are both scared. Both come away from the experience realizing that they do have a lot in common.

Just Like You is a cute picture book with an important message given in a friendly way: while we all have differences (and some can be very apparent like our height), we also have many similarities. We don’t have to be exactly the same to be friends, and sometimes our differences help our friends experiences things in a new way.

This book is a great lesson to not judge a person by appearance. Because who knows, you may have a lot in common! This is exactly what happens when a meerkat meets a giraffe. 

I think this book was a little too deep for my 5 year old. She’s way too young to judge anyone by their looks. Better for slightly older kids.

To see how differences can really bring two together due to their seeing what's similar also and bonding over it was amazing! The voices of these characters was my favorite part of this book as well as the outstanding art!

I gave an honest review in exchange for a copy of this novel! 5 stars!

Cute, if a little heavy on the moral. I actually really liked the fact that differences were their beds and food (things we all need) not the more obvious physical aspects.

This is a cute story, and we always need picture books about diversity, accepting differences, and overcoming prejudice. This one tackles all three. I thought the moral was a little heavy-handed, though. And even though Miki and Raffa are kids, I thought that their immediate prejudice toward each other was unrealistic, especially because they’re basing their prejudice not on the fact that they are completely different species and vastly different sizes, but because they sleep in different places. The illustrations are pleasing to the eye, but nothing monumental. Since there are so many books about overcoming prejudice on the current publishing scene, this one just doesn’t do anything to really stand out. I think it’s worth a read, but I would sooner purchase or recommend other titles that tackle the same subject a little more smoothly.

This is a great little book about embracing our differences and acknowledging that despite the fact that someone might look different or come from somewhere different, there are lots of other commonalities that can tie us together as friends. The illustrations are fun and engaging, and the storyline sparks great conversations with your children about friendship. I would recommend.

This is a beautifully illustrated children's picture book that shares the reminder that we can find common ground with others, even if we look and act differently in many ways. This is a great book for 4-6-year-olds who are starting to really recognize the people around them and what makes someone unique.  

Recognizing that what is on the insides counts is such a great talking point of this book and our 6-year-old loved reading Just Like You. A big thank you to NetGalley and Lion Hudson for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a lovely book about meeting new people, finding common ground, and becoming friends :-)  A young meerkat in a zoo gets a new neighbor, and hears that they will be "just like you"!  But when it turns out to be a giraffe, they don't see how they have anything in common - they eat differently, sleep differently, etc.  But then of course they bond over a shared experience and shared reactions (no spoilers!) and are best friends forever!

Besides the wonderful message to children, I also loved the illustrations - especially capturing the height differential between the two main characters <3 - and a wonderful use of colors!

A lovely little story about friendship between two very different animals. Teaches children that differences aren’t as import as they seem, not to judge on first impressions and finding common interests. It’s illustrations are adorable and fit so well.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is a charming book focusing on a friendship between two very different animals.  Miki, the meerkat, lives in the zoo with his Mama and is waiting impatiently for a new family to arrive hoping that he will finally have someone like himself to play with and befriend.  

When the new residents arrive Miki is very disappointed.  He discovers that his new neighbour couldn't be more different.  She is a very tall, slender giraffe named Raffa.  They introduce themselves   and realize very quickly that they couldn't possibility be friends.  She is ever so tall and he is small, she sleeps standing up while he sleeps curled up inside his burrow, he eats from the ground and she stretches her neck high and nibbles leaves from the treetops, just to name a few dissimilarities.  No, they cannot be friends, as they seem to have nothing in common.  But are their deductions about having a friendship accurate?  

One night during a crackling thunderstorm their decision changes.  Despite their physical differences and life-styles they fearfully cling together and find out that they have more in common than they first realized.  From that scary night together they start looking at their world through each other's eyes and to their utter amazement a wonderful friendship ensues. 

Kids will learn that differences can be a good thing and can actually unite rather than divide.  It's a book about acceptance, friendship, and independent thinking.  Don't judge someone on the outside because on the inside there could be many similaraites.  The illustrations enrich the text and are lovely to behold.  I highly recommend this book and its positive message that will resonate with both the young and old.

A cute book that introduces children to the important idea that just because someone looks different than you or enjoys different things than you, you can still find common ground and become the best of friends.

Just Like You by Sarah Dodd is a great book about an unlikely friendship. It helps remind us that our first impressions are not always correct. Lovely illustrations accompany the sweet story.

Super sweet story about 2 young animals, giraffe and meerkat, who meet for the first time.  At first, all they can see is their external differences.  But late at night, they find each other and realize that they are very similar on the inside.
Lovely illustrations.  Great opportunities to use this book as instructing children to look beyond the surface to find out about a person.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Lion Hudson Ltd, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Super tall, super small no matter the difference, we can all be friends. Just Like You is a short quick read showing two completely opposite animals becoming fast friends. Turns out, they have a lot in common! Just the right length, it's a perfect bedtime read for my toddler. I think the story is ideal for any small child who is perhaps just starting school or daycare. For many children, it's the first time they come out of their comfort zone to so many different people, I do love the graphics but visually wished they would have explored the zoo or possibly just enhance the story so the pages give more color. Mainly, to be more eye-catching to younger children. Overall, great addition to the bedtime rotation!

My son and I enjoyed sharing this ebook together. The message was clear and simply done .The illustrations are beautiful. 
Would recommend to fellow parents. Thank you for letting me review this book.

Sweet story of a meerkat and a giraffe becoming friends. The zookeeper tells Miki the meerkat that a new friend is moving into the exhibit next to his. Miki is surprised when the new friend tuns out to be a giraffe named Raffa. The two are sure they have nothing whatsoever in common as one is little, the other tall. One talks to bugs, the other birds. But after spending the whole day discussing why they can't be friends, night falls and both find many common interests! Little will enjoy this story. The illustrations were really cute!

This is a wonderful children's book with beautiful illustrations. It teaches that just because someone is different than you doesn't mean you can't be friends. A valuable lesson for children and adults. Thank you Lion Hudson LTD via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Sarah J. Dodd's "Just Like You" is a straightforward children's picture book about a meerkat and a giraffe finding a common friendship even though there are obvious differences. Giusi Capizzi provides delightful, uncluttered artwork to match the tone of the story.  Very enjoyable. 4 stars

#JustLikeYou #NetGalley

Sometimes children have a hard time making and maintaining friendships, especially if there are clear differences between them. Just LIke You by Sarah J. Dodd is a delightful book about two very different animals who find a way to come together in spite of their differences. The illustrations are inviting, and the book is short enough for brief attention spans.

This book didn't really excite me. While it has a decent message about different people finding common ground, I thought the story was kind of boring.

Also, if you're going to write a story that uses the need for sleep as a commonality, it might be better not to use a giraffe. Giraffes need very little sleep. This book also shows Raffa sleeping standing up, but it's usually older giraffes who do that.

The pictures are colourful and cartoonish, but they didn't really do anything for me. Kids might like them, though.

Overall, while I liked the message, the story was kind of weak and the illustrations just didn't excite me. I'm sure the book has an audience... but I'm not it.