Menu

The Only Me

Stella, a twin, learns she’s unique and special—even when constantly being compared to her sister—in this heartwarming celebration of individuality, confidence, identity, and sibling love.

Stella and Paige are 7-year-old fraternal twins with different looks, interests, and personalities—but people constantly compare them. Stella wants to be seen as herself, not just “one of the twins.” The comparisons leave her feeling unsure of who she is and wondering if she measures up.

Can Stella learn to embrace her individuality and see that she and Paige can be unique—and still be twins?
Shop

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.

“An engaging celebration of self-love from the perspective of a twin.” — Kirkus Reviews 

Also Available on:

Amazon
Bookshop.org
Target

Reviews!!

Kirkus Reviews
An engaging celebration of self-love from the perspective of a twin.
"...Telling the enjoyable story through Stella’s voice, Bader creates an authentic look at how frustrated the girl is by other people’s expectations. The short sentences and accessible vocabulary make this a good choice for newly independent readers. Soto’s soft-edged, digital cartoon illustrations clearly portray the White twins’ differences in style and personality, bolstering the text with visual evidence...."
Litpick
Litpick
A wonderful book that celebrates our differences and embraces our individuality
"...The Only Me is a fantastic book for children to read as they learn to embrace who they are. Each child is uniquely gifted, and this book showcases that. No matter the genetics a person shares with someone else, each one of us is our own person..."
Kathleen West
Author
“Marissa Bader’s book is the ultimate endorsement for embracing difference and celebrating children’s unique selves.”
Dana
Parent & Teacher
“The Only Me is a sweet story about a girl named Stella exploring her identity and finding her strengths. As a twin, she feels like she is constantly compared to her sister and sometimes feels less than. She realizes that she has her own identity and with that her own special gifts to offer the world. Kids of all ages will see parts of themselves in her and will love reading this story. Her voice sounds like any young child’s and will be relatable for many little ones. A great story with a great lesson.”
Michelle
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Parent
“A beautifully written, kid-friendly story that so eloquently reminds all of us of our own extraordinary uniqueness. It’s a book that I could read over and over to both my children and for myself — empowering humans of all ages to celebrate and embrace our differences.”
Purple Dragonfly Award Winner
Purple Dragonfly Award Winner
The Only Me wins Honorable Mentions in two Purple Dragonfly Award categories.

Picture Books for 5 & Younger Picture Books for 6 & Older

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Subscribe!

Stay in the loop for updates and special events

We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Facebook Instagram

Connecting Hearts Through Stories 

© 2025 Marissa Bader | Web Design by Intricate Designs

Share

petunia-the-perfectionist-marissa-bader

This book is PERFECT for perfectionists (children and grown-ups!) and belongs in classrooms, libraries, and every child’s bookshelf. 

Read More…

Order Today

Also available on:

Amazon
B & N
Bookshop

Share

Stella’s Brave Voice follows the twins from The Only Me and has earned a 5-star Book Review Award from Litpick and Reader’s Favorite. 

Read More…

Order Today

Also available on:

Amazon
B & N
Bookshop

Share

The Only Me was named one of the top 100 indie children’s books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews and earned a 5-star Book Review Award from Litpick. 

Read More…

Order Today

Also available on:

Amazon
B & N
Bookshop

Stay in the loop!

We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Get your FREE Lesson Plans

A PDF download will be sent to your inbox.

We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Get your FREE Coloring Pages

A PDF download will be sent to your inbox.

We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.