The Beautiful Layers of Me

<p><b>**WINNER OF THE INCLUSIVE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS**</b><br><b>**SHORTLISTED FOR THE DIVERSE BOOK AWARDS**</b><br><b><br>"A sensitive and powerful exploration of belonging, cultural identity and difference." </b>IBC Awards 2026 judges<br><br><i>"</i><b>An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions."</b> <i>Kirkus Reviews</i><br><br><b>"Empowers viewers to embrace their identity with confidence."</b> <i>The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books</i><br><br>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.<br><br>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.</p>