The Beautiful Layers of Me by Sophia Payne
WINNER OF THE INCLUSIVE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS
"A sensitive and powerful exploration of belonging, cultural identity and difference." IBC Awards 2026 judges
"An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions." Kirkus Reviews
"Empowers viewers to embrace their identity with confidence." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Celebrate each other's unique identity in this authentic, reassuring and sensitively told story written by Sophia Payne and with evocative illustrations from Ruchi Mhasane. This is a must-have picture book for every child battling with their self-esteem or anxiety about wearing cultural dress, and anyone learning to build tolerance, empathy and understanding of everybody's background.
Ameena can’t wait for her aunty’s wedding. She is wearing a brand-new salwar kameez – the layers of floaty fabric filled with pretty patterns make her feel like a princess. But when someone comments on her “pyjamas”, she loses all confidence, fearing that her friends might not accept her traditional clothing. Through courage, family love and self-belief, Ameena discovers what it means to take pride in the beautiful layers of her heritage, especially in the face of difficult comments.
Sophia Payne was born and raised in the UK and is half Guyanese, half British. Her writing often reflects her Indo-Caribbean heritage, as well as her motto in life: always be kind. Her first picture book Faruq and the Wiri Wiri illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat was shortlisted for the Inclusive Children's Book Award. She currently lives in Germany with her husband and two children. Find her on Instagram as @sophiap_author.
Ruchi Mhasane is a children's book illustrator whose debut picture book Dadaji's Paintbrush written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande won the Diverse Book Award and was longlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. She has an MA in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art and currently lives in India, where she grew up. Find her on Instagram as @ruchi.mm.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781529513974 |
| ISBN 10 | 1529513979 |
| Title | The Beautiful Layers of Me |
| Author | Sophia Payne |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Walker Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2025-06-05 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |