Nesting Dolls
by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Author)
Anyiaka is in awe of her gorgeous Gullah Geechee family—she wants to be beautiful like her older sister, Sorie, a great listener like her mom, and a talented artist like her grandma. But on today's visit to her grandparents’ house, Anyiaka sticks out from the rest of the family like a sore thumb. She can't seem to do anything right, and a trip to Grandma's art studio confirms just how different she is from the rest of the family.
But Grandma’s artwork—a special set of nesting dolls—also shows that what’s on the outside doesn’t always tell the whole story. While they may be distinct, together, her family’s beauty and inner strength have deep roots that have been growing within each of them for generations.
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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
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
African Americans
Picture books
Self-perception
Human skin color
