NATURAL ME

Drawing inspiration from her popular song “Natural Girl,” Ghanaian singer/songwriter MzVee offers an ode to self-love.

“I love my hair, I love my skin. / I love the shape that I come in.” Young Black girls strike dynamic poses as they joyfully proclaim, “I am a natural girl!” MzVee’s simple, upbeat words brim with verve and pride, accompanied by Checo’s stunning artwork, rendered in watercolor, colored pencil, and marker. The hyper-realistic details of the girls’ hair will mesmerize readers. Short tight curls, locs, loose and cascading tresses, hair in Bantu knots, two-strand twists, or braids—each style shines. Butterflies, bows, and flowers are sprinkled throughout the pages, lending a whimsical and magical feel to an empowering text; Checo’s use of light and shading is wonderful. Girls of various shades are depicted, including a child with albinism, one with vitiligo, and another with freckles. Laudably, the author stresses that true beauty comes from our actions: “I act with kindness and with love, / and this is what I’m most proud of.” “Like a true queen, / I wear my crown / and spread my / greatness all around.” The book closes with a rousing author’s note: “Natural girls rule the world!”

Much-needed words—and images—of affirmation.