09/01/2023
K-Gr 2—A charming story about accepting who you are. Anyiaka doesn't feel like she is as pretty or talented as her sister or the other women in her family. When she sees the nesting dolls her grandmother is making, she decides to paint over the one that is designated as being in her image. Her grandmother, seeing what she has done, tells Anyiaka their history and the unique qualities all of the women in their family share. Brantley-Newton uses her own experiences to infuse the story with Gullah Geechee culture and dialect and includes an author's note about her family. The digitally created artwork, full of warmth and domestic touches that invite readers into the pages, includes bright colors and fun details worth revisiting. VERDICT A sweet story about embracing your history, set amid a beautiful Black family's reunion.—V. Lynn Christiansen
2023-08-12
A young Black girl doesn’t think she can measure up to her big sister.
Anyiaka tells readers that her sister, Sorie, is pretty, helpful, and smart, and she looks just like Mom and Grandma. Anyiaka, whose skin tone is darker, wants to be helpful, too, but when she tries to prepare the red rice, she makes a mess. When she looks at the family photos on Grandma’s wall, she wonders how she can ever fit into a family of such smart and beautiful people with “glamorous hair and golden brown skin.” Spotting some nesting dolls, she starts to paint the smallest, darkest one (with whom she identifies) a lighter brown, but Grandma quickly sets her straight. Anyiaka may not look just like her sister, mom, and grandmother, but she has parts of all of them in her, and she takes after many family members, including Grandma’s mama. The story doesn’t explicitly make clear that Anyiaka is self-conscious about her darker skin, and some readers may not quite follow the story’s multiple layers, though those aware of the impact of colorism will feel a kinship with her. Overall, the simple text, told from the perspective of a Gullah Geechee child, the use of dialect, the cultural details in the story, and the warm, collagelike art make for a unique and tender offering. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet tale with a strong message about how families fit together. (note about the Gullah Geechee people, photos) (Picture book. 3-7)
★ "Brantley-Newton highlights the bonds, both visible and invisible, that connect family members." —The Horn Book, starred review
"A sweet tale with a strong message about how families fit together." —Kirkus Reviews
"A sweet story about embracing your history, set amid a beautiful Black family’s reunion." —School Library Journal
"Along with Anyiaka’s expressive narrative, this offers an affectionate celebration of family through generations. A sweet and affirming book that gently tackles the issue of colorism." —Booklist
"Brantley-Newton’s abundant use of vivid textile patterns gives the story a homey atmosphere that suits its layered contemplation of family." —Publishers Weekly
