Not Quite Snow White

Got them for my friend’s daughter and she had her read it to her every night.I love the representation and even the art.

My class really connected with this book. Great read aloud.

I love this story. I purchased it because my grand goes to a predominately white school and she began to feel inferior about her brown skin. We don’t do that at all! This was one of the few books I purchased for her and she was able to understand that just because the stories traditionally have Caucasian princesses, it doesn’t mean they can’t be other nationalities.

I love the story, the message, the artwork is beautiful, it’s overall empowering, but I’m kind of conflicted about the fact that part of the story shows classmates whispering “she’s too chubby” and then the little girl continues wondering “am I too chubby” and is illustrated sticking her belly out and trying to suck it in. I bought this book for my four year old daughter because I want her to see images and text about empowered women/girls of color, but this book risks teaching my daughter a poor body image mentality, and risks teaching her the terminology of bullying someone for being chubby. She doesn’t even know the word “chubby” because no one has ever said it to her, she has no concept of sucking in ones stomach and has never faced judgement of this type. I feel that if I read this to her she would be asking me what this even means, and although I would try my hardest to explain that this is something you DO NOT say to someone, I already know that kids at her age are fascinated by trying on different roles and personas even if they are told they aren’t “good.” For example my daughter has been taught that hitting is bad but sometimes enacts pretend-hitting her stuffed animals during play time to process the idea... if I caught her enacting a scene of calling someone chubby during play time, or trying out the idea of examining the size of her belly... I would just be heartbroken. It’s a concept kids should be free from learning.I can see this type of explicit storyline being cathartic for a child who may have unfortunately experienced this type of bullying before, and has a framework for understanding that this type of commentary is bad because they know how bad it feels. Or for an older child who has more developed empathic skills. But for my preschooler it’s pretty developmentally inappropriate.

I found this book to be so adorable. I read it to my young niece and she loved the images she saw. Many people complained about fat shaming by using the word Chubby and not wanting taint their kids with that mentality but did not acknowledge her being “too brown” for a fictional character. Draw your own conclusions there. The world we live in still struggles with many of these issues and mentalities. While it’s understandable parents want to protect their children’s innocence, the safest place to have those conversations begin at home.Either way, I highly recommend this book

It was just right. I liked how the other girls said she couldn’t do it but she did it anyway.

If only this book could have been read to me as a child...it truly could have changed my life. As a mixed girl who grew up in the theater world I was constantly struggling with not feeling like I was enough; when I read this book (now as an adult in the professional theater industry) I cried tears of sadness and joy and was so excited to share it with the little ones in my life! This book is for any and all grown-ups who have little ones of color in their lives (especially little ones inspired by the performing arts). I would also encourage this book to be shared with children who are not of color to help foster a conversation that challenges how we navigate historical norms!

I'm filipino and grew up in a predominantly caucasian area. I remember almost every halloween I was made fun of because there were no "chinese" versions of batman or whatever. That humiliation always affected me. Now I have daughters of my own who will soon be in the same situation as they noticed their skin is "not like Elsas". So I got this book. I hate to admit it but it made me tear up. It shows how a confident little girl was filled with such doubt because of others peoples prejudices and how she overcame it with the love and support from her parents. My daugthers now know they can be whoever they want, even if their skin is different.

I bought this to read with my year 2 class and I know they’re going to love it. It’s a lovely story, it will prompt age appropriate discussion, we’ll be able to read it through again with actions, and I’m sure it will give a little courage to any children in my class who are feeling “too” something to fit in. Also, beautiful illustrations that capture the emotion of the characters.

Snow White means to me means pure at heart good, and you in your skin. You can be anything you put your mind to. Let no one tell you different when they are trying to guide you negatively. Simple reminder to our young that you are a perfect you.

Bought it for my granddaughter. It is excellent.

This is a great book but to market it as being a book for imperfect individuals gives the impression that having darker skin and not modeling after society's view of perfection makes a child imperfect. This should be changed. The messaging in the marketing does not value the uniqueness of children...particularly Black and Brown children.