Review: `Each of us is different, we're all unique.'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 10, 2013
Author Shirly R.L. and Illustrator Anahit Aleksanyan continue to create stories about an adorable little girl named Annie whose crowning feature is a head of curls. With wise writing and beautiful illustrations they offer a story that is not only fun for children (especially little girls who worry about such things) but also that has some very wise lessons.Annie greets her friend Mia whom she hasn't seen for a long time and the girls enjoy a day of playing with dolls, making a dollhouse, and putting on a show for their parents until Mia must leave at the end of the day. Annie loves Mia and thinks Mia with her straight blonde hair is beautiful, but when Annie looks in the mirror she notices now that her own hair is very curly: she wishes it were straight like Mia's and she attempts to comb and brush her curly locks to no avail. Despite her parents support that Annie's hair is beautiful in its curly state, Annie continues to attempt to straighten her hair by placing heavy books on her curls as she reclines in bed. Her father sits beside her and reminds her of a shared movie with penguins and the zoo with elephants and how they all look alike - and how boring the world would be if everyone looked the same. The next day Annie's now loved curls become the safety net for a falling little baby bird, proving that what her father said about being unique was absolutely right. And her supportive mother adds `What matters most is that you love yourself,' Even your curls!Books of this caliber are not only terrific bedtime stories for children, but they leave thoughts in sleepy heads about appreciating their own unique selves. Grady Harp, August 13