*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Talking about this book? Use #AStoryAboutAfiya #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October leaves falling. A joyful celebration of a young girl’s childhood, written by the late Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Jamaican poet James Berry.
Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October...
Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October leaves falling. A joyful celebration of a young girl’s childhood, written by the late Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Jamaican poet James Berry.
Advance Praise
"A unique and beautiful combination of poetic story and expressive art."-Kirkus Reviews
"A unique and beautiful combination of poetic story and expressive art."-Kirkus Reviews
This is a spectacularly beautiful picture book about a little girl whose white dress picks up the colors and patterns of whatever she does for the day, and then magically becomes white again for the next day's adventures. The art is stunning and the mood is magical. My one small issue with it is that it's confusing where Afiya lives. At the start of the book we see palm trees what looks like a desert, yet later on there is snow outside and leaves are falling. Even the look of her home is radically different at times and there's no mention of moving. I originally thought that it took place in Africa (a note at the start tells us that her name means health in Swahili and early scenes look like a more African landscape), but then towards the end her living room looks like a typical American home and there appears to be snow covered hills out the window. Kids may not notice this or care, but it was a bit distracting for me. That said, it's an absolutely beautiful book and one I'd highly recommend.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
Was this review helpful?
Educator 624257
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Such a great book--filled with figurative language that allows readers to visualize Afiya---superb illustrations!
Perfect book to use in the classroom when teaching imagery and theme....
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Educator 550974
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
The art seemed like watercolor paintings vivid and beautiful. Afiya has beautiful skin and bantu knots in her hair. She wears a white dress that picks up a little bit of everything she encounters from tigers to leaves. A beautiful story. The book opens in reverse on the Kindle app so be sure to start on the last page and read it in reverse.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Helena R, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Creative and beautifully crafted. Afiya discovers her natural surroundings while picking up traces of her adventure on her dress. Colorful pictures and lyrical prose.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Adara J, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
I genuinely loved this book! I’m almost speechless. Afiya and her dress are a wonderful inspiration for brown skin girls everywhere. She is beautiful, carefree, and enjoying the skin she’s in.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Librarian 12060
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
beautiful illustrations that prominently feature an adorable black-skinned girl (yay! More diverse titles like this, please!) who enjoys daily nature-filled outings.
Lyrical text provides a quiet storyline that invites reflection--would be great for one-on-one reading as well as a read-aloud to a smallish group that can enjoy a quiet story.
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
Was this review helpful?
Featured Reviews
Media/Journalist 16509
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
This is a spectacularly beautiful picture book about a little girl whose white dress picks up the colors and patterns of whatever she does for the day, and then magically becomes white again for the next day's adventures. The art is stunning and the mood is magical. My one small issue with it is that it's confusing where Afiya lives. At the start of the book we see palm trees what looks like a desert, yet later on there is snow outside and leaves are falling. Even the look of her home is radically different at times and there's no mention of moving. I originally thought that it took place in Africa (a note at the start tells us that her name means health in Swahili and early scenes look like a more African landscape), but then towards the end her living room looks like a typical American home and there appears to be snow covered hills out the window. Kids may not notice this or care, but it was a bit distracting for me. That said, it's an absolutely beautiful book and one I'd highly recommend.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
Was this review helpful?
Educator 624257
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Such a great book--filled with figurative language that allows readers to visualize Afiya---superb illustrations!
Perfect book to use in the classroom when teaching imagery and theme....
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Educator 550974
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
The art seemed like watercolor paintings vivid and beautiful. Afiya has beautiful skin and bantu knots in her hair. She wears a white dress that picks up a little bit of everything she encounters from tigers to leaves. A beautiful story. The book opens in reverse on the Kindle app so be sure to start on the last page and read it in reverse.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Helena R, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Creative and beautifully crafted. Afiya discovers her natural surroundings while picking up traces of her adventure on her dress. Colorful pictures and lyrical prose.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Adara J, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
I genuinely loved this book! I’m almost speechless. Afiya and her dress are a wonderful inspiration for brown skin girls everywhere. She is beautiful, carefree, and enjoying the skin she’s in.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Librarian 12060
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
beautiful illustrations that prominently feature an adorable black-skinned girl (yay! More diverse titles like this, please!) who enjoys daily nature-filled outings.
Lyrical text provides a quiet storyline that invites reflection--would be great for one-on-one reading as well as a read-aloud to a smallish group that can enjoy a quiet story.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use the site, you are agreeing to our cookie policy. You'll also find information about how we protect your personal data in our privacy policy.