The Beautiful Layers of Me
An empowering story of culture, confidence and traditional dress for ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Published on 5. June 2025
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-5295-1397-4 (ISBN)
Description
A reassuring picture book celebration of individuality and heritage told with heart, emotion and evocative illustrations, for every child battling with their self-esteem or anxiety about wearing cultural dress.
"Beautiful . . . Reflects the reality of many young people who may feel unsure of traditional clothing and how it might be perceived by others." Inclusive Books for Children
"An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions." Kirkus Reviews
"A sincere ending. . . shows the rich and intricate layers of their diverse cultures that make them beautiful and empowers viewers to embrace their identity with confidence." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Celebrate each other's unique identity and build tolerance, empathy and understanding of everybody's background in this authentic and sensitively told story from Sophia Payne and the 2023 Diverse Book Award-winning illustrator Ruchi Mhasane.
Ameena can't wait for her aunty's wedding. She is wearing a brand-new salwar kameez - the layers of floaty fabric filled with pretty patterns make her feel like a princess. But when someone comments on her "pyjamas", she loses all confidence, fearing that her friends might not accept her traditional clothing. Through courage, family love and self-belief, Ameena discovers what it means to take pride in the beautiful layers of her heritage, especially in the face of difficult comments.
"Beautiful . . . Reflects the reality of many young people who may feel unsure of traditional clothing and how it might be perceived by others." Inclusive Books for Children
"An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions." Kirkus Reviews
"A sincere ending. . . shows the rich and intricate layers of their diverse cultures that make them beautiful and empowers viewers to embrace their identity with confidence." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Celebrate each other's unique identity and build tolerance, empathy and understanding of everybody's background in this authentic and sensitively told story from Sophia Payne and the 2023 Diverse Book Award-winning illustrator Ruchi Mhasane.
Ameena can't wait for her aunty's wedding. She is wearing a brand-new salwar kameez - the layers of floaty fabric filled with pretty patterns make her feel like a princess. But when someone comments on her "pyjamas", she loses all confidence, fearing that her friends might not accept her traditional clothing. Through courage, family love and self-belief, Ameena discovers what it means to take pride in the beautiful layers of her heritage, especially in the face of difficult comments.
Reviews / Votes
The illustrations are beautiful and the storyline reflects the reality of many young people who may feel unsure of traditional clothing and how it might be perceived by others. * Inclusive Books for Children *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 to 7 years
Dimensions
Height: 251 mm
Width: 277 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
406 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5295-1397-4 (9781529513974)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Sophia Payne was born and raised in the UK and is half Guyanese, half British. Her writing often reflects her Indo-Caribbean heritage, as well as her motto in life: always be kind. Her first picture book Faruq and the Wiri Wiri illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat was shortlisted for the Inclusive Children's Book Award. She currently lives in Germany with her husband and two children. Find her on Instagram as @sophiap_author.
Ruchi Mhasane is a children's book illustrator whose debut picture book Dadaji's Paintbrush written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande won the Diverse Book Award and was longlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. She has an MA in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art and currently lives in India, where she grew up. Find her on Instagram as @ruchi.mm.
Ruchi Mhasane is a children's book illustrator whose debut picture book Dadaji's Paintbrush written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande won the Diverse Book Award and was longlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. She has an MA in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art and currently lives in India, where she grew up. Find her on Instagram as @ruchi.mm.