Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, or famous athletes. Those books that did exist, a lot of the time, were books that featured well known black people, like Dr. Not because the librarian didn’t stock them, she is an amazing librarian who strives to stock the shelves with diversity it’s simply because they didn’t exist at that time not a large selection of them, at any rate. These kids wanted books where they could see themselves but books where they could see themselves were scarce. I do not know how many children I helped to pick out books, but it was a lot. I worked in a public school for ten years in which there was a large population of children of color. I can tell you that the number of books that had characters who looked like them, white, blond hair and blue eyed, was limitless. I cannot recall but a handful of books when they were younger that depicted children of color. I have taken them to the library since they were born. For so long, black boys and girls, and other children of color, were not able to see themselves reflected in the pages of books. I am ecstatic that this book has been written. “The Creator crowned me with melanated glory, and everyday I get to live out my beautiful story. She grows to know that she is wonderfully, uniquely made created for purpose. It shows Azira accomplishing amazing things as she grows up and it shows the confidence she has as she grows up to be a young woman full of grace who is able to stand firm in her gifts and beliefs. Most importantly, it shows not just how Azira comes to love her hair, but to love herself. Not only does Williamson and Rodney do an absolutely lovely job of explaining the nuances of black girl hair and the amount of time and energy it takes to take care of this gift the Lord gave them, it does a wonderful job of showing the cultural importance of their hair.

Hello world! I’m a gift from above! I already know that I am loved!Ĭrowned with Glory shows Azira and her hair, in various stages, from wrapping her hair for bedtime, to sitting in the stylist chair for hours getting braids and Bantu knots to dancing with a pretty headband in her hair, in all its natural, glorious beauty. Crowned With Glory, by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Shellene Rodney, is a beautiful tribute to the magnificent hair that God gave little black girls everywhere, and to the beautiful souls on whom he placed it upon their heads. This rhyming picture book follows little Azira from birth, and through the years as she grows up.

Crowned with glory dorena williamson