What Little Girls Are Made Of - Susanna Leonard Hill

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Author: Susanna Leonard Hill

Illustrator: Talitha Shipman
Genre: Children's nonfiction, Inspirational.
Rating: 5 stars.

Little girls were traditionally made of “sugar and spice and all things nice”. Thankfully, they are allowed to come in more varied flavours nowadays. 😉

This book celebrates everything about what little girls are and what they can be. It doesn’t stick to the usual spiel of “You can be strong/brave/a high achiever” but goes much beyond that. It tells girls that it’s okay to try and fail. It also tells them that it’s fine to cry or ask for help. This realistic approach to life was my favourite part of the book. It doesn’t aim to incorporate the quest towards perfection but suggests how self-acceptance, with flaws and all, is equally important. We shouldn’t strive to be perfect but be the best we can.

More importantly, the book doesn’t indulge in any kind of boy-bashing nor does it go for an ‘us vs. them’ approach. I appreciate the author’s decision of not making any kind of comparisons with boys, positive or negative. Girls must be allowed to be themselves without being measured against the standards set for/by boys. Equality isn’t about surpassing boys, after all; it is about getting the same opportunities.

The book ends with some wonderful affirmations that little girls can recite to themselves daily to give the best of themselves to the day ahead.

It is very easy to understand why this picture book will make you go “Awww!” and “Wow!” simultaneously. It is cute and inspiring. The language is quite simple to understand, with a mix of rhymes and simple prose that works wonderfully in tandem. 

The illustrations by Talitha Shipman are the icing on the cake, with every page being inclusive both in terms of race as well as physical ability.

Loved it to the core! Recommended with all my heart to every little girl. Go and spread some happiness around by gifting this book to the little cuties in your life. Suited for ages 3-8.

5 glittery stars.

My thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Wonderland, and NetGalley for the DRC of “What Little Girls Are Made Of”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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