The Beautiful Layers of Me

Written by Sophia Payne · Illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane

A girl loves her wedding outfit until a neighbor's comment makes her doubt it.

40 pages· ~540L· AR ~3.6

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Ameena can't wait for her auntie's Nikah, the first wedding she has ever attended, held right in her own garden. In her floaty salwar kameez she feels like a princess, until a neighbor over the fence mistakes it for pajamas. Embarrassed, she wonders whether to change, and must find the confidence to celebrate her family's tradition.

From the publisher

A young girl gains the confidence to participate in her family’s tradition–and be fully herself–in a vibrant ode to difference and love from a new voice in picture books. Ameena can’t wait for her auntie’s Nikah. She’s never been to a wedding, and today there is one in her own garden! After putting on the salwar kameez that Babu gave her, with its soft layers of floaty fabric, she feels like a princess, skipping down the garden path. “Oh wow!” comes a friendly voice over the fence. “I wish I had pajamas like that!” Suddenly Ameena, her cheeks hot, starts to wonder: should she wear something else? In a gentle text capturing all the nuances of a first cultural experience, Sophia Payne follows a child’s passage from self-doubt to worry to pride, while Ruchi Mhasane’s expressive illustrations render the wedding garb in glowing colors and patterns that will have young readers wanting to join in the celebration.

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