Becoming Vanessa

Written by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

A girl learns to embrace her unique identity on her first school day.

4.1 Goodreads · 561 ratings

40 pages· 656 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud· AD540L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Vanessa's first school day is daunting. Her bright outfit and unique name draw unwanted attention, making her wish to blend in. But when her mother reveals the special meaning behind her name, Vanessa gains the confidence to show her true self. Will she find acceptance by embracing her uniqueness?

From the publisher

Get ready to go back to school with this inclusive, empathetic story that will help kids new to the classroom transform from timid caterpillars into beautiful butterflies who love exactly who they are! On Vanessa’s first day of school, her parents tell her it will be easy to make friends. Vanessa isn’t so sure. She wears her fanciest outfit so her new classmates will notice her right away. They notice, but the attention isn’t what she’d hoped for. As the day goes on, she feels more self-conscious. Her clothes are too bright, her feather boa has way too many feathers, and even her name is too hard to write. The next day, she picks out a plain outfit, and tells her mom that her name is too long. She just wants to blend in, with a simple name like the other girls–why couldn’t her parents have named her Megan or Bella? But when her mother tells her the meaning behind her name, it gives her the confidence she needs to introduce her classmates to the real Vanessa. Perfect for readers of Alma and How She Got Her Name and The King of Kindergarten.

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