Tears & Tulle

by Gina Bell, Elena Mykolaitis (Illustrator)

This is the story of a girl and her rainbow tulle skirt. Magical and invisible to all but the girl, the skirt is a source of joy, wonder, and strength. As the girl grows and changes, so does her magical skirt! On her dark days, the girl’s rainbow tulle skirt is a bright reminder to celebrate her inner sparkle.

Tears & Tulle is a book for all ages that was inspired by The Tears & Tulle Movement, a women’s empowerment project started by Gina Bell. Gina’s rainbow tulle skirt is a wonderful reminder of the magic and color that exists in all of us. We can access this inner magic even when life doesn’t go the way we hope!

42 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Gina Bell is an empowerment guide, author, speaker, workshop host, and creator of The Tears & Tulle Movement. Gina uses art, metaphors, and rainbow tulle to help people all over the world remember their color. She loves eating batter straight from the mixing bowl on an old wooden spoon, playing board games with her family, and stealing her husband's comfy socks. She is busy these days writing Tears & Taffeta, the story of a boy and his ever-growing, multicolored cape. Gina lives outside of Chicago with her wonderful husband and is the mother of six amazing kids!

Reviews

[Brittany Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have enough words to describe the love I have for this book. The message is so incredibly empowering and is perfect for all ages. Don’t be fooled by the colorful imagery into thinking it’s a children’s book. In all honesty, I think more adults need to hear this message over kiddos. I will be reading this book to each of my nieces and kids of my own one day! If you haven’t bought it yet, you need too!

[Julie Slaikjer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message that we are enough cannot be overstated. We all have times where we needed to be reminded we are creative, thoughtful, smart, amazing and kind. We need to be reminded we are born wearing an invisible rainbow tulle skirt that is always there to show us how perfect we are right now? ♥️🌈 Sometimes we all need a reminder and the Tears and Tulle book is that reminder. Let this story remind you of the amazing person you are and read to it to a child so they KNOW too. No matter how much it feels like the darkness is taking over, our invisible rainbow tulle skirts are always here to remind us that there is kindness and positivity too...if we just look for it. The beautiful illustrations in this book translate author Gina Bell’s vision into a reality on every page.

[Gaby Nava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book for all ages. The artwork is beautiful as well as the words beside it. During such a hard time for all this was a great read to remind me that I have the power within me to make my world colorful and sparkly. I feel like this is a book that could grow alongside a child as a reminder to be themselves, push through their obstacles and come out on the other side. Love, love, love it!

[Karyn Lindquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything about this gorgeous book. It’s perfect for kids to learn about their feelings and know they are still powerful, magical, and special despite (and maybe because of) the hard parts of life. I can’t recommend this book enough for not just children, but adults who might need a reminder of who they are and how special they are. I also don’t want to forget to mention the beautiful illustrations.

[Sandy Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story right here is as amazing as the author!!!! It’s written for every woman to remember theirs magical inner girl… you know the one, the one that was not afraid, had a huge imagination and didn’t dwell on what others thought. It reminds us that we somehow along our journey on this earth, we seemed to have lost that little adventurous person inside of us…..bring her back…fluff that skirt, stand up straight and bring her back!!! Thank you for that reminder, Gina!!!!

Sandy Martinez

[Jennifer Wellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story to remind you of the magic you have within. Gina Bell's Tears & Tulle Movement is inspiring and empowering women, and this book will do the same for young girls. Yet, it's a book for all ages. The illustrations are amazing and bring the word on the page to life. Definitely a good read!

[Cristin B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina's joyful and encouraging voice comes through in Tears and Tulle! The book celebrates how your own (invisible) rainbow skirt grows throughout your life experiences and encourages girls to remain true to their dreams.

[Amy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story of determination and a great reminder that our “magic”is always present! I look forward to sharing this story with my girls at school (as I am a teacher) to help empower them and use the skirt as a visual tool of their individual power! 🌈

[Deb Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely thrilled to have this amazingly beautiful book in my hands 🥰 I love the message of remembering your own magic, keeping on dancing and living your best life.
Thank you so much Gina for this fabulous book, my daughter and I have read it over and over.

[Linda Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina Bell has created a wonderful story for kids of all ages 💕. I’m very thrilled with her original story line.
Good for self esteem for children. Reminds them of they have basic goodness. The illustrations are fabulous. Such creativity 💕

[Lynn Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for children and adults alike. It embodies the message that we all have the innate qualities of self compassion and love and the ability to embrace ourselves with kindness. I love this book and highly recommend it!

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder of our resilience. Life is not perfect, and as women, we can often get bogged down by the tears life can bring us. But this story of empowerment and resilience also reminds us that we alway have within us the power to grow, change and heal.

[Micheline Edwards]

Absolutely magical!
Such a poignant message delivered with a Supreme dose of sparkle.
I highly recommend Tears and Tulle for all ages 1 to over 101

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful and powerful story for not only our daughters, but also for ourselves.

[Betsy Zalewski Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears & Tulle is such an inspiration and amazing book telling little girls and women, that anything is possible with this this invisible tulle skirt🌈 it magically gives you confidence and teaches you a powerful lesson!
I follow Gina Bell and her Tears & Tulle Movement✨✨ Amazing!
I can’t wait for Christmas to share this empowering &
Inspirational story🌈✨✨✨✨

[Lori Granno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a moving and empowering story for all woman young and old. The words encourage you to find your magic and spirit and let it guide you in all stages of your life!

[Estrellita Ballester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book that reminds us that we are powerful resilient beings that are able to overcome obstacles with the strength and beauty we have inside.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina has written a beautiful story to help everyone, children and adults, embrace the magic we all have, build confidence, and spread that rainbow spirit to the world.

[Karen Facko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It’s so inspirational. It’s a book I read to my daughter in hopes she remembers it when she goes through the tough times in life. Skip! Dance! Swish! Twirl! ❤️

[Megan DeYoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated. The magic jumps off the page and into your heart. What an uplifting book for women of all ages. Be empowered by your inner magic, and remember who you are.

[Valerie Chou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and story for really all ages. I love it! Very magical, kind and educational for kids. My daughter definitely loves it. I cannot wait for your next wok!

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Tears & Tulle, written by Gina Bell and illustrated by Elena Mykolaitis, a tale of female empowerment based on Bell’s social media project of the same name.

Once upon a time, a baby girl was born with a rainbow tulle skirt, a symbol of her magic and invisible to all but her. As the baby grew to a girl, then a teen, then a woman, she faced various hardships. Yet whenever she was feeling down, she would take a moment to “Skip! Dance! Swish! Twirl!”, recapturing the magic of the rainbow skirt and how it made her feel.

A message with a lot of heart, but an execution that falls flat. This self-published indie from freshman author Gina Bell is packed with good intentions, and for the first half of the book, those intentions are enough to carry the inconsistent rhyme scheme. However, as the central character abruptly ages up, the story becomes less about empowering young girls (i.e., the typical audience for picture books) and more about the struggles of adulthood, with the addition of a somewhat self-congratulatory tone (a scene of the adult character reading a copy of Tears & Tulle, complete with creator’s credits and paired with a line on using her “wisdom” to help others, is cringey). The “struggles” the adult protagonist faces are somewhat superficial: she beams as two other teen girls whisper behind her, she cozies into a blanket with a mug, she cries while holding a bouquet of blossoming daisies, she giggles over a mountain of laundry. One “struggle”, looking defeated as she sits amongst a pile of tools next to a presumably broken car, is both hard for children to relate to and feels oddly patronizing. The illustrations use a compelling mix of greyscale graphite with pops of rainbow colors, but the female characters are uncomfortably sexualized for a book on female empowerment, all presenting as waif-like, willowy creatures with giant heads and doe-eyes. The length was fine for a storytime, but the inconsistent meter and story made for a lackluster read (though JJ did enjoy the rainbows). While female empowerment will always be a worthy subject for picture book treatment, this one simply misses the mark, and it’s not for us.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Jackie Nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful tale of empowerment! Forget children, this is a book every WOMAN should have!

With GORGEOUS illustrations that justapose monochome with the bright rainbow colors of the tulle, this book captures the ultimate "girl power" vibes. "Remember the spririt of that magical girl." The way the story comes full circle from the main character as a baby and then reading this very book to her own little girl is just perfection!

I dare any woman to read this and not be touched.

This book would make a great gift for any girl or woman in your life! For baby showers, birthdays, Mother's Day, you name it.

5 STARS! Go get this book!

[Cara Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Movement

This book touched me in so many ways. It’s equally wonderful for all girls/women, young and old alike. As women, we face many struggles and this helps us remember that we are strong enough. We are good enough.
The illustrations were adorable and I really enjoyed the poetic aspect.
I want to join the movement and get myself a beautiful rainbow skirt, too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

The illustrations we're beautiful I loved the bright, yet not overwhelming colors! I think any little girl would love this story, from those who love to dance and wear fluffy skirts, to those who may be more tomboy but have a beautiful soul of colors within. It reminds you you can always fluff up your skirt and get back up!

[Cindy Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful children's book

This is a beautiful story for young girls that encourages empowerment from within. The illustrations are precious and help readers emphasize with the character. We've all felt like we didn't belong or weren't good enough. Stories like this builds self esteem and self worth to anyone who needs uplifting. Highly recommend this one!

[Amy Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each page my smile grew bigger and bigger - the illustration is beautiful and the message is empowering, making us recognize the strength within. Thank you for writing this book and I'm also a sucker for stories that rhyme. Love love love this book that is appropriate for all ages whether you are a year or a hundred years young. Can't wait for tears and taffeta book.

[Amy M. Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each page my smile grew bigger and bigger - the illustration is beautiful and the message is empowering, making us recognize the strength within. Thank you for writing this book and I'm also a sucker for stories that rhyme. Love love love this book that is appropriate for all ages whether you are a year or a hundred years young. Can't wait for tears and taffeta book.

[Irene E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even express how much I adore this story and more importantly the message. I want to run out and get my own rainbow tulle skirt and live out loud. I want to share it with every little girl in my life and all my "not so little anymore" friends. It is so, so good!!

[Jyothsna Raju · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I loved the lovely illustrations with rainbow skirt, so bright and cute. The author has narrated a good morale to kids. It also has lovely rhymes to which it is understandable and sounds fun to kids. A must buy book.