Ashley Franklin

Tameika is a little girl who enjoys dancing and singing, and loves to perform in shows at school. She had been a cucumber, a space cowgirl, a dinosaur, and a singing mermaid. But when she went to try out for the part of Snow White, the other kids laughed at her and told her she was “too tall,” too chubby,” and most importantly in their eyes, “too brown.”

[The author did not point out the bizarre hypocrisy of people thinking it was okay that Tameika didn't resemble a cucumber or dinosaur enough to prevent her from playing those roles, but not a white person. Adults could emphasize how bigotry plays a distorted role in perceptions.]

Tameika was sad, and felt a loss of confidence. She confided her feelings to her parents, who assured her she had “just enough of the all the right stuff,” and was a princess in their eyes in any event.

The next day, Tameika went to the audition, closed her eyes, “and imagined she was singing and dancing for her favorite audience of friends (stuffed and unstuffed).”

The book ends showing the case of Snow White in front of a cheering audience, with Tameika playing the lead.

Animation-inspired digital art by Ebony Glenn are colorful, active, and affirming.

Evaluation: This story for ages 4 and up illustrates for kids the lesson brought home to adults in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize winning play and movie “Hamilton,” in which a cast of Black and brown actors filled the roles of historic white figures, and the results delighted everyone. Here too, we see that what counts for playing a part is not what color your skin is or what texture your hair is, but how much talent you have. We also see the strong role support by loving parents can play in the process.… (altro)

Not Quite Snow White is a diverse fiction picture book about accepting your differences and the things that make you you. A young African American girl ,Tameika, wants to try out for Snow White, and all of the other kids tell her her skin is too dark to be Snow White. Tameika has to find the confidence and love her self to be brave and try out for Snow White. The themes of diversity, racism, and self-love help make the message behind this book even more powerful. The illustrations in the book provide clarity for the text, and they help make the text make sense especially for younger readers. I think this relationship is good for younger readers because the illustrations don’t confuse them. This story is fun and uplifting and shares an important message students need to hear.… (altro)