Ashley Franklin

little black girl holds true to her dream that on the theater stage you can be whatever you want—even if it’s Snow White.

Tameika is a bubbly, outgoing singer and dancer who loves the stage. She has played various roles, such as a cucumber, a space cowgirl, and a dinosaur, but never a princess. This charming tale tackles the complex subject of biases around race and body image when Tameika overhears her classmates’ whispers: “She can’t be Snow White”; “She’s much too show more chubby”; “And she’s too brown.” Tameika goes on a journey of self-acceptance as she grapples with her feelings about wanting to be a princess. Glenn’s playful, animation-inspired digital art will enchant readers as it immerses them in Tameika’s vivid imagination. New fans may seek out her previous work in Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow’s Mommy’s Khimar (2018) and Michelle Meadows’ Brave Ballerina (2019). The vibrant colors and active compositions enhance the story, reflecting Tameika’s changing emotions and her interactions with her parents, whose positive affirmations help give Tameika the courage and self-love to remember how much joy she gets from performing. For kids who like to imagine themselves being anything they want to be, it is reassuring to be reminded that it’s not exterior looks that matter but the princess within.

A feel-good picture book and a great reminder that classic princess roles can be reimagined to embrace inclusion, diversity, and body positivity. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

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 show more 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. show less

A talented and exuberant dancer, singer and actress, Tameika had starred in many of the stage plays put on at her school, so she eagerly tried out for the part of Snow White in the upcoming musical. Then she overheard some of her classmates talking about her, maintaining that she was too tall, too chubby, and too brown for the part. Terribly upset, she shared her troubles at home, and was assured that she was just right as she was. Faith restored, she returned to try-outs the next day and show more wowed the judges...

Author Ashley Franklin makes her debut with Not Quite Snow White, teaming up with illustrator Ebony Glenn, who has also worked on such titles as Mommy's Khimar and Brave Ballerina. The story here is sweet and upbeat, communicating the message that talent is more important than identity, when it comes to acting and stage plays. It reminded me quite a bit of Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace, about a little black British girl who wants to play the part of Peter Pan in her school's play, and who must confront some of the same issues. The artwork from Glenn is colorful and cute, and will no doubt appeal to young children. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories that address appearance & race, and how those things might impact young people at school. show less

Really lovely book, covering both a little girl's discovery that others see her differently, brilliantly supportive parents, and the simple joy of performing for the love of performing.