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Toto
A little girl is self-conscious about the birthmark on her forehead� until a new friend helps her see it in a whole new light.
This little girl doesn’t mind her birthmark, most of the time. She calls it Toto, and her mom calls it a kiss from an angel. But sometimes, it feels like people look so hard at Toto they forget to see her. So when it’s time to start school, her mom cuts her bangs to cover Toto up, at least for a little while.
At school, she makes a new best friend right away! But then Toto accidentally comes out of hiding. Will her new friend see her differently with Toto in the picture? And does different have to be bad?Ìý
Award-winning creator Hyewon Yum’s knack for the adorable is at full power in Toto. This warm and vulnerable story grapples with the pressure we feel to blend in, and celebrates the moments—and the friends—that remind us how much better it is to be our full and singular selves.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
This little girl doesn’t mind her birthmark, most of the time. She calls it Toto, and her mom calls it a kiss from an angel. But sometimes, it feels like people look so hard at Toto they forget to see her. So when it’s time to start school, her mom cuts her bangs to cover Toto up, at least for a little while.
At school, she makes a new best friend right away! But then Toto accidentally comes out of hiding. Will her new friend see her differently with Toto in the picture? And does different have to be bad?Ìý
Award-winning creator Hyewon Yum’s knack for the adorable is at full power in Toto. This warm and vulnerable story grapples with the pressure we feel to blend in, and celebrates the moments—and the friends—that remind us how much better it is to be our full and singular selves.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 21, 2025
46 people want to read
About the author
Hyewon Yum
33Ìýbooks52ÌýfollowersHyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed books for children. She has received the Society of Illustrator's Founder's Award, the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, an Honorable Mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award, and the Golden Kite Award for her work. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2025
This book is so sweet that if I had had the physical copy I would have hugged it.
Read
March 5, 2025This book is for children who are already self-conscious about a prominent birthmark, but I would not recommend it to young children to whom the thought to be embarrassed about it has never crossed their mind. Toto is the name this girl has given the red birthmark on her face. She picks up that she should be embarrassed of it because her grandma's eyes look sad when she kisses the girl's forehead, and because her mom gives her a haircut with bangs to hide Toto before her first day of school. Although the book has an overall positive message and the girl ends the book being proud of and fully accepting of Toto, I would just not read it to a child who is carefree and risk introducing them to the concept that they should be self-conscious or scared of being teased about a prominent birthmark or other feature.
February 23, 2025
3.5� mimi album sur l’acceptation de ses différences, j’aime beaucoup le style du dessin
January 23, 2025
This is a really sweet story celebrating our differences.
February 25, 2025
Toto was born with a birthmark on her face that she doesn't mind until she becomes older and feels like people are judging her because of it. She attempts to hide it until a new friend helps her see it in a new way and gives Toto confidence and perspective. I resonated deeply with this book because my beautiful aunt was born with a birthmark on her face. When I was young, I asked her what it was and she explained that the angels in heaven were so sad to see her go that they kissed her all over her face to remind her how much she was loved. My aunt was so beautiful and had such confidence that even know, her story makes perfect sense to me. Beautiful illustrations and powerful message!
February 6, 2025
This book is not about a girl with a birthmark. This book is about “difference� which we all have. We all have different colors, we all have different hair and eyes, we are all different and special. This book addresses how to accept the differences and appreciate it specifically for young readers. Very sweet heart warming story. Highly recommend.
March 5, 2025
Here is a sweet and straight forward story about a girl and her birthmark. She calls the birthmark on her face Toto. Toto can really embarrass her. People stare at it and she doesn’t know what to do about it. This is just a day in the life of this girl.
She cutes her bangs to cover it before going to school. She meets a girl and they become best friends. While playing, Toto is exposed and the friend sees the birthmark. She loves it. She says, “Wow, you are so lucky. It means you get a second life.� I love that. What a wonderful thing to say.
The artwork is pencil and colored pencils. The details are so minute and defined. It’s very beautiful and simple, like the story.
Kids with birthmarks will love this story. It’s a story about being different.
She cutes her bangs to cover it before going to school. She meets a girl and they become best friends. While playing, Toto is exposed and the friend sees the birthmark. She loves it. She says, “Wow, you are so lucky. It means you get a second life.� I love that. What a wonderful thing to say.
The artwork is pencil and colored pencils. The details are so minute and defined. It’s very beautiful and simple, like the story.
Kids with birthmarks will love this story. It’s a story about being different.
February 18, 2025
First sentence: Sometimes I wonder
how I would look without Toto.
Would I look pretty?
Would I look plain?
Premise/plot: A little girl with a birthmark (a birthmark she has named Toto) starts school and makes a friend.
My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I'm not sure I absolutely loved, loved, loved it. But I strongly liked it. I will always be the first to check out stories with characters with birthmarks because of my own experiences. I am glad that more books are coming out in recent years. The text is simple and joyful.
how I would look without Toto.
Would I look pretty?
Would I look plain?
Premise/plot: A little girl with a birthmark (a birthmark she has named Toto) starts school and makes a friend.
My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I'm not sure I absolutely loved, loved, loved it. But I strongly liked it. I will always be the first to check out stories with characters with birthmarks because of my own experiences. I am glad that more books are coming out in recent years. The text is simple and joyful.
March 6, 2025
A little girl doesn't know how to feel about the birth mark on her face. She goes to school for the first time, and thinks she should hide it behind bangs. But meets a friend who thinks the mark is cool, and helps her to see she is just right with the mark. I don't have a birth mark on my face, but I do have a big one on my leg. I love that this book is about something many kids have, but maybe don't share about themselves for fear of being different.
June 25, 2024
Very sweet.
ARC from Edelweiss.
ARC from Edelweiss.
February 14, 2025
Good message. Similar to A Monster Like Me (Swore), MG book about a similar birthmark situation.
March 10, 2025
Themes: friendship
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2025
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2025
March 23, 2025
A little girl was born with a birthmark that she is self conscious of. Reminds me how you just need one good friend to make yourself feel good about yourself.
April 3, 2025
Necessary story about a child with a birthmark on their face. Would be great for Respect for all week.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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