Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

 

Title: Becoming Vanessa

Author: Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Illustrations: Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

ISBN: 9780525582137

 

Review:

Vanessa is getting ready for the first day of school. She is a bit nervous and worried the other kids won’t like her. She decided to pick out a special outfit that clearly, to Vanessa, spoke to who she was. At school her tutu, boa, hat, and shiny shoes were not the hit she was expecting. And to add more insult she had trouble writing out her name and decided to take on a classmate’s name instead. At home, Vanessa didn’t share the details of her day with her parents. The next morning, she learned something special about her name. Do you think she figured out how to be her true self? 

Author Vanessa Brantley-Newton has created a lovely, colorfully illustrated story about self-identity and inclusivity. Young readers will see that they can be unique but at the same time be able to adapt to the social norms of a classroom setting. Parents and teachers can use this tool to teach how a change in surroundings doesn’t mean that students have to change who they are.