What Is Beautiful?

by Maryjean Watson Avery

A bright, colorful little book teaches young children that everyone--white, black, boy, girl--has something beautiful about them and inside them, including the readers, who on the last page will see themselves.

20 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Alex McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very culturally diverse in it's pictures and sends a good message to young readers that there is always some type of beauty to be found in different races. It brings attention to the features that every human being has (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.) and showers each feature with appreciation. The characters in this book are realistic and I cannot express how much I love the pictures in this short book. The language is simple and the colors used in the painting are bright and attention catching. This book relates to my text-set by showing that cultural identity goes a step beyond having a single race. The people portrayed in this book are connected by features and thus create a "group" that they all can belong to (i.e. the human race).

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preschool +.

A continuation book in which each person finds something beautiful about the next person. The book ends with an enclosed mirror and the question, "What's beautiful about you?"

A wonderful, simple story that addresses the different forms of beauty in a variety of individuals. Large, colorful paintings depict the many cultures of the world. A truly wonderful book.