The Beautiful Layers of Me

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.

• | Author: Sophia Payne
• | Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• | Publication Date: Jun 24, 2025
• | Number of Pages: 00040 pages
• | Binding: Hardback or Cased Book
• | ISBN-10: 1536242896
• | ISBN-13: 9781536242898