Many Shapes of Clay

By Kenesha Sneed

A young girl learns to transform loss into creation through a shattered piece of clay.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 140 ratings

44 pages

$16.95Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Eisha, guided by her ceramic artist mother, molds a piece of clay that evokes memories of her father. As they journey through their neighborhood, the clay hardens and shatters, symbolizing Eisha's grief. Yet, in this poignant tale, she discovers the power of creation and healing from what remains. With vibrant illustrations, this story celebrates diversity and the resilience found in crafting something new from broken pieces. How will Eisha's journey through loss shape her understanding of family and creativity?

From the publisher

In this modern-day fable about grief, diversity, and family connections, a young girl discovers the joys–and pain–of the creative process. Winner of the Bookstagang Best of 2021: Best Conversation Starter Picture Books of 2021. Longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize. Ezra Jack Keats Award Honoree. Eisha lives with her mother, a ceramic artist, who helps her make a special shape out of a piece of clay. The shape reminds Eisha of her father, of the ocean, of a lemon. As Eisha goes through her neighborhood doing errands with her mother, the piece of clay hardens and then shatters into pieces when Eisha taps it. In poignant and powerful words and pictures, Kenesha Sneed shows how Eisha learns to live with the sense of loss and of the joyful power of making something new out of what is left behind. Illustrated with Sneed’s bold colors, graphic lines, and gestural textures, the book celebrates diversity and shares a gentle message that we all have the ability to heal and create.