A GIRL LIKE ME
Author: Angela Johnson
Illustrator: Nina Crews
ISBN: 9781541557772
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group (2020)
Age Range: 5-10
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 4th
Amazon Synopsis: Empower young readers to embrace their individuality, reject societal limitations, and follow their dreams. This inspiring picture book brings together a poem by acclaimed author Angela Johnson and Nina Crews’s distinctive photo collage illustrations to celebrate girls of color.
My Review
“A Girl Like Me” is a beautiful, empowering book girls of all ages will enjoy. I knew when I saw the cover I was in for a treat. The story follows carefree young girls who dare to dream – girls that follow those dreams regardless of what other people might say. A beautiful thing happens when we inspire young girls – they become courageous, smart, assertive, self-confident, happy – the list goes on.
Flowing on the words of a simple but powerful poem by the author, the pages come to life as real girls model for the story and meld with large, bold, empowering illustrations. As I was reading, I could almost see and hear the naysayers pointing their fingers and saying, “A girl like you shouldn’t…,” and the girls following their dreams in spite of the people who would hold them back. Power on girls!
One girl is dressed in superhero underwear and dreams she can fly. Another is dressed in western wear, complete with a cowgirl hat and flowing scarf who dreams she can walk over tall buildings. One girl dreamed of swimming in the ocean and becoming part of the waves. The girls come together at the end of the book and have fun dressing up for their dreams in scarves and hats and playful accessories, parading their glorious selves and radiating individuality.
Overall, the book portrays positivity, self-worth and confidence. You won’t be able to keep a smile off your face while reading “A Girl Like Me,” nor will you want to, and by the time you finish the book you just feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Though written for young girls, it’s an inspirational message for all ages. I especially love the last couple pages where 12 different girls are highlighted, telling readers all about themselves and their dreams. Beautiful book, beautiful story, beautiful message.
About the Author
Learn more about Angela Johnson at https://www.ajohnsonauthor.com/.
About the Illustrator
Learn more about Nina Crews at http://ninacrews.com/.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nina-Crews-Childrens-Books-109671239060328/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crewsnina/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crews_nina
Follow Lerner Publishing:
Website: www.lernerbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lernerbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lernerbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lernerbooks/
Review Copy
This book was provided to me by Laura Neel at Lerner Publishing in collaboration with Multicultural Children’s Book Day, January 31,2020. Learn more about the event here:
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year!
This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.
MCBD 2020 is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board
Super Platinum
Make A Way Media/ Deirdre “DeeDee” Cummings,
Platinum
Language Lizard, Pack-N-Go Girls,
Gold
Audrey Press, Lerner Publishing Group, KidLit TV, ABDO BOOKS : A Family of Educational Publishers, PragmaticMom & Sumo Jo, Candlewick Press,
Silver
Author Charlotte Riggle, Capstone Publishing, Guba Publishing, Melissa Munro Boyd & B is for Breathe,
Bronze
Author Carole P. Roman, Snowflake Stories/Jill Barletti, Vivian Kirkfield & Making Their Voices Heard. Barnes Brothers Books, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales Press, Lee & Low Books, Charlesbridge Publishing, Barefoot Books Talegari Tales
Author Sponsor Link Cloud
Jerry Craft, A.R. Bey and Adventures in Boogieland, Eugina Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Kenneth Braswell & Fathers Incorporated, Maritza M. Mejia & Luz del mes_Mejia, Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Josh Funk and HOW TO CODE A ROLLERCOASTER, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Lauren Ranalli, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! By Dr. Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang and Me On The Page, Afsaneh Moradian and Jamie is Jamie, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Gwen Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen & The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher (Founders of Inner Flower Child Books), Ann Morris & Do It Again!/¡Otra Vez!, Janet Balletta and Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Ocean, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo & Bruna Bailando por el Mundo\ Dancing Around the World, Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, Sarah Jamila Stevenson, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Teresa Robeson & The Queen of Physics, Nadishka Aloysius and Roo The Little Red TukTuk, Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore & Stories by the Girlfriends Book Club, Finding My Way Books, Diana Huang & Intrepids, Five Enchanted Mermaids, Elizabeth Godley and Ribbon’s Traveling Castle, Anna Olswanger and Greenhorn, Danielle Wallace & My Big Brother Troy, Jocelyn Francisco and Little Yellow Jeepney, Mariana Llanos & Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess/La Ñusta Diminuta, Sara Arnold & The Big Buna Bash, Roddie Simmons & Race 2 Rio, DuEwa Frazier & Alice’s Musical Debut, Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series Green Kids Club, Inc.
We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.
Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
A Crafty Arab, Afsaneh Moradian, Agatha Rodi Books, All Done Monkey, Barefoot Mommy, Bethany Edward & Biracial Bookworms, Michelle Goetzl & Books My Kids Read, Crafty Moms Share, Colours of Us, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes, Educators Spin on it, Shauna Hibbitts-creator of eNannylink, Growing Book by Book, Here Wee Read, Joel Leonidas & Descendant of Poseidon Reads {Philippines}, Imagination Soup, Kid World Citizen, Kristi’s Book Nook, The Logonauts, Mama Smiles, Miss Panda Chinese, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Serge Smagarinsky {Australia}, Shoumi Sen, Jennifer Brunk & Spanish Playground, Katie Meadows and Youth Lit Reviews
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
- Free Multicultural Books for Teachers
- Our New FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit http://ow.ly/kcbZ30p3QWz
- Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators
- Free Understanding Developmental & Physical Challenges Classroom Kit
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