Becoming Vanessa
by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Ages 3-6
During a month that we focus on the significance of names for transracial adoptees, Becoming Vanessa, by Vanessa Brantley-Newton feels like a relevant recommendation.
Vanessa wants to feel special on her first day of school, but everything goes wrong. The outfit she picked is too fancy, and her name has too many letters. She shares her sad feelings with her parents, who help her discover how special her name is – and how special she is, too! A super book to share at the beginning of the school year.
Watch a special YouTube video for a read aloud with the author: