A young girl fascinated by her Nana’s set of traditional nesting dolls notes that they all have identical smiles. Deciding the dolls shouldn’t be stuck with the same smiles, the girl “fixes” them, adding a range of expressions to their faces. She’s happy with her effort. Nana is not, and she angrily takes the “ruined” dolls (and dessert!) away. The girl is mad too, insisting that “If those dolls were me … they would not all be the same” because she has different feelings at different times; there are even different kinds of happiness. “Somehow they all fit together. So many people wrapped up in one.” After considering, Nana agrees; the hug she gives “is big enough to hold all of me.” Brimming with humor and emotional honesty, this superb picture book skillfully translates complex ideas about emotions and identity into an accessible story full of child-appeal. Terrific pacing also distinguishes this tale of a loving (if momentarily fraught) relationship between a brown-skinned girl and her white grandmother. The exceptional storytelling is paired with illustrations that have a naïve yet slightly edgy quality. (Ages 3-7)

A playful yet profound take on the phrase "I contain multitudes"

A little girl admires her nana's wooden nesting dolls that sit side by side on the windowsill. They all look exactly the same: pink cheeks, frilly aprons, and big smiles--except for the tiniest doll, which is small and unpainted and looks like a raw peanut. The girl thinks the matching smiles of all the other dolls don't feel quite right. After all, she has many different faces and feelings inside of her, and the dolls should too!

Starting with the peanut, the girl draws new expressions on all the dolls' faces, from toothy grins to grimaces. But when Nana sees what her granddaughter has done, she's furious and says the dolls are ruined. The girl disagrees. "If those dolls were me," she says, "no two would be alike." When Nana considers what her granddaughter is telling her, she slowly begins to understand. With a hug, and a warning to ask before embarking on any more art projects, Nana proudly returns the dolls to their spot.

This bright, uplifting story about honoring and acknowledging emotions also touches on communication skills, creative self-expression, and conflict resolution. Written with humor and honesty, it reminds readers that, just like nesting dolls, there's more to us than meets the eye.