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Who is “Not Me”?
Not Me! follows a little boy on his first day of school who learns an important lesson in responsibility when he is forced to take the blame for his own actions. Where did the idea for this book come from?
“Not Me” came from a situation that often happened to me as an early childhood educator for 39 years. Oftentimes when a child did something “accidentally” and I would see it happen, I would go over and ask “who did this”? The child didn’t want to admit their mistake, even though I had seen it, and would often reply “not me!” One day this happened 5 times before lunch. I was convinced we had someone in our class named “Not Me.” I held a class meeting with all the kindergartners sitting around me. I asked the children to stand when they heard their name and to stay standing. After everyone was standing, I added one more name, Not Me. The children glared at me and said, “we have no one in our class named Not Me.” I explained that it is important to admit our mistakes rather than blame others. I am not saying Not Me never got blamed again but instead wrote a humorous children’s book to illustrate to all of us how we can learn from our mistakes.
What is your favorite scene in Joshua’s story?
My favorite scene in the story is the last page, when Not Me leaves B.A. Friend Elementary. Joshua knows the importance of admitting his mistakes and doesn’t need to put the blame on Not Me. I often ask readers “where do you think Not Me” is going next? I listen to their priceless reactions but often conclude with “I hope he’s not going to your house/school.” I want the discussion to lead to the importance of taking responsibility for your actions. I also like the scene where Joshua and Not Me are talking in Mr. Fair’s (the principal’s) office. Not Me realizes he is not needed anymore and Joshua wants to learn from his mistakes.Things have calmed down once the principal enters the room and Joshua can admit all the things he has done wrong.
Where did you get the inspiration for Joshua’s traits and dialogue?
I loved writing the character descriptions, especially for Joshua. He is the oldest with twin younger sisters at home. He is the first child in his family to go to school and he is a people pleaser. Even though I don’t have twin siblings, I am the oldest and have always loved school and pleasing others. Joshua’s dialogue is based on my many conversations teaching kindergarten and first grade children. Most of the time, they love their teacher and want to please him/her. As I was writing Joshua’s dialogue, I felt the anguish of wanting to do everything right but making mistakes along the way. I wanted a book that let children know that making mistakes is part of growing up.
What do you hope young readers take away from Not Me?
I hope readers find “Not Me” to be humorous and that they can relate to at least one character. My illustrator, Carissa Harris, did a wonderful job bringing the story to life with Not Me’s dialog in a cartoon bubble. I think this distinguishes real from make believe. I hope my book provides discussion between the reader and those that love them, that we all make mistakes and what we learn from those mistakes is most important.
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How would you handle a character like Not Me? Will he come to visit you next?
Not Me!
Not Me! by Deb Mortensen is a fun and meaningful children’s book about responsibility and honesty. The story follows Joshua, a young boy excited for his first day of school, but things don’t go quite as planned. A mischievous little character named Not Me appears on Joshua’s shoulder, whispering excuses and leading him to deny his mistakes. As Joshua’s day unravels, spilled milk, a runaway class hamster, and even a cafeteria mishap, he finds himself in deeper trouble. Eventually, he learns that blaming Not Me isn’t the answer, and taking ownership of his actions is the only way forward.
One of the best things about this book is how relatable it is. Every kid has been in Joshua’s shoes, messing up and wanting to dodge the blame. When he spills milk at breakfast and instinctively blurts out, “Not Me!,” I could almost hear the chorus of kids everywhere doing the same. The story captures that real moment of hesitation between telling the truth and avoiding trouble. Mortensen nails that internal conflict kids feel, making it an engaging and teachable story without ever being preachy.
The way Not Me! builds up Joshua’s frustration is hilarious and a little heartbreaking. Every time he tries to shake off Not Me, the troublemaker just digs in deeper. One of my favorite scenes is when Joshua, desperate to fit in, launches peas across the cafeteria and immediately hears Not Me blurt out the excuse. It’s a perfect moment of peer pressure, mischief, and regret all rolled into one. The humor keeps the story light, but there’s a clear emotional undercurrent that kids (and even adults) will recognize.
The turning point is what really makes this book special. When Joshua finally admits to everything, there’s no harsh punishment, no dramatic meltdown but a simple conversation with the principal and a realization that honesty feels better than hiding. That moment feels so genuine. When he tells Not Me to go away because he’s “not any fun,” it’s a small but powerful act of maturity. Instead of being lectured into honesty, Joshua arrives at it himself, making the lesson feel earned and real.
Not Me! is a fantastic read for kids who are just starting school or struggling with personal responsibility. The playful language and lively illustrations make it fun, while the underlying message about honesty sneaks in without feeling forced. Teachers, parents, and librarians will appreciate how it sparks conversations about accountability in a way kids actually understand. This is the kind of book that sticks with you and not just because of the charming story but because every kid will meet their own Not Me at some point. Hopefully, like Joshua, they’ll learn to send him packing.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 978-1779441867
LITERARY TITAN 