Strong is the New Pretty - a review

Strong is the New Pretty-A Guided Journal for Girls
By Kate T. Parker
Workman, 2018


The children's publishing industry is responding to  recent societal changes with a much-needed shift towards diversity—racial, religious, ethnic, physical, and gender. This book reflects that change.

Strong is the New Pretty is a tween book that celebrates the power of girls from ages 7-14.  The book combines activity, writing, and drawing prompts with photos, quotes, and challenges. The pages are colorfully decorated and invite doodling and note-taking. The blue elastic cord is attached with grommets and keeps the book from flapping open, and a colorful orange ribbon is sewn into the binding to mark the reader's page.  Strong is the New Pretty is for princesses, athletes, bookworms, and dreamers.

If you're looking for a holiday gift for a young girl, Strong is the New Pretty is inspirational and a perfect gift for a strong young girl in your life.  If you can purchase it from an independent bookstore, so much the better.

Though I usually review library books, this is definitely not a library book.  It is intended to be a celebration of one special girl, and used until it's frayed and tattered.



My copy of Strong is the New Pretty was provided by the publisher.

Betsy B. Little

McEvoy, Anne. 2008. Betsy B. Little. New York: Harper Collins.

A bright and happy, rhyming story that soars to great heights (literally) of possibility as giraffe, Betsy B. Little, refuses to abandon her dream of becoming a ballerina despite the difficulties of her size. The rhyming text flows smoothly,


"and so,
On the very first Monday in May,
She arrived At the Skoffington School of Ballet,"


and the message is uplifting,


"Maybe my problem's not
Being too tall. Maybe I've just been
Dreaming too small!"


Anne McEvoy's first children's book is a winner.