This is such a beautiful book!!! The photos of girls from around the world and descriptions are really wonderful. I pored over this and really enjoyed each one. My only regret is that I read it in electronic form! I would love to have a copy to keep out on the coffee table and look over again and again. ❤️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is a very personal journey in some ways. The author's note in the beginning provides details about the reasons why she started taking these photos.
The photos are of ordinary (but extraordinary as well) girls as they go about doing things they love. There is a simplicity in the presentation. The girls are all normal-looking, with no reason to airbrush them into typically super-cute images. Instead, they are in the middle of doing things they like (or just posing).
There is not much more that one can say about a coffee table book like this one. I would recommend this as a good gift to give a teenager to bolster a sort of confidence they might not get otherwise from the regular social media.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This strikes me as a coffee table book, one that would make the best impression when the reader can page through the images and read the individual stories.

Some of the photographs and stories resonated more than others but each one was looking to reflect a perspective and the very different ways in which these girls are different and special.

With thanks to Netgalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

In a Nutshell: A gorgeous coffee-table book containing some stunning photographs of... you guessed it… ‘girls of the world’. Covers multiple countries and cultures. Inclusive in almost every way. A treat for the eyes and the heart.

Author Mihaela Noroc is renowned for her first photographic collection, ‘The Atlas of Beauty’, which contained 500 stunning photographs of women from across the globe, all of whom she had clicked during a year of backpacking. This second project of hers is extra special as she was also accompanied by her little daughter Natalia on her travels. The purpose of this collection, in Mihaela’s words, is ‘to inspire’, and I think she has been quite successful in that respect. Inspiration needn’t be big or small. On some days, even a simple heartfelt smile can inspire you towards a better day. And this book contains more than enough adorable snapshots to brighten your spirits.

This book covers 250 photographs of young girls from 55 countries. The locations range from developed to primitive. The kids’ ages range from one to young adult. There is representation of varied skin colours, races, cultures, financial statuses, body shapes, physical abilities and talents. There are a few motivational notes by the author in between, but the photographs dominate the content. A few times, the photos were clubbed as per a common theme in groups of 2-3, but on the whole, the ordering was mostly random.

Each photo is accompanied by a caption indicating the city and country it was clicked in, followed by a brief note about the subject. This note could be as simple as a comment on the girl’s hobby or it could be a poignant statement about the issues the little one faces. Every photo is either entertaining or educational, and sometimes, both.

I loovvvvvvvvveeee kids, so anything involving kids makes me happy. As such, I knew I would enjoy this book before I even opened it. Just look at the radiant faces on that cover! How could you not fall in love with those cherubic smiles? 😍😍

What struck me greatly is the expression on the faces of most of the girls. Whether they were playing with expensive toys or fiddling around with a simple jump rope, whether they were alone or with friends, whether they had easy access to most facilities or had to struggle for even the basic essentials, almost all the children radiated an inner joy on their countenances that no filter can replicate. ‘Beauty comes from within’ isn’t an empty quote, and each of these children proves it.

That said, there was one major thing that soured my experience. I can’t speak for all countries, but at least for India, the photographs were not demographically comprehensive. The focus seems to be on what would strike the Western world as quintessentially “Indian”, so the representation (which is mostly from Mumbai –the richest city in the country and the 23rd wealthiest city in the world as per Henley & Partners World's Wealthiest Cities List 2023), is of girls from underprivileged backgrounds who are struggling to go beyond their circumstances and yet bravely do what they can to better their situations. I wish the eye of the beholder had been more holistic, because such “inclusivity” is very lopsided. The same problem is present in the representation of African countries, where all the photographs focus on tribal girls. I cannot take away from the beauty of the portraits, but having such a one-sided representation just serves to perpetuate stereotypes. This was the only flaw in an otherwise impeccable collection.

I don’t know whom to recommend this to. A book of photographs will have only a niche audience. But if you are the kind of reader who would love to have a heartwarming coffee table book at your place, a book filled with angelic smiles and impish grins, with tree climbers and sport lovers and bibliophiles and farmers, with cultural, racial and mostly inclusive representation from across the globe, this is an amazing option.

There is a Kindle edition of this title available as well, but I would recommend the hard copy. Many of the photos are centre-split across pages, and these might not render well in the digital version.

4 stars.

My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

What a lovely book! Girls of the World is a beautiful showcase of the diversity in the world, charting the faces and lives of girls around the world.

Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome by Mihaela Noroc is currently scheduled for release on November 7 2023. This collection of powerful photographs and moving stories showcases young women of all backgrounds, from a myriad of cultures, showing us that all girls are awesome in their own special way. Travel from Kabul to Texas with author and photographer Mihaela Noroc and experience astonishing diversity and a shared humanity in Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome. The inspiring stories of these young women are the stories of our planet. Their gaze into the camera reveals their strength and tenacity, their joy and fun-seeking spirits, even in the face of hardships and extraordinary challenges.

Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome is a wonderful book for children and adults to look through and explore. I loved the diversity of girls included, and thought that everyone could see someone they could identify with or aspire to be more like. Some of the girls had more information shared about their experiences, culture, and plans than others. However, I think the information shared was well balanced between different parts of the world, different cultures and experiences, and different plans for the future. Some of the young people included were continuing and celebrating the culture and traditions of their families, others were breaking new ground, and some shared nothing more than enjoying being a kid. I loved that every path was celebrated and that the emphasis was on strength, happiness, and hope for the future. I learned some things about different countries and cultures, and I think some readers will see the names of countries or people that they have never heard of before. I hope that it can inspire future exploration into those areas, and the understanding that all of us are at the heart the same, while we have so many differences to celebrate and explore to better understand each other.

This book is absolutely gorgeous. The author/photographer takes the reader on a journey through 55 countries where they will meet girls who are beautiful inside and out.

Ms. Noroc found her calling in these pages. She shares that it took her time to find her way as a person. With this book, she shows what a rich life she has developed.

Open this book anywhere and meet a girl. Readers will be so glad that they did! The photos are superb and the text gives a reader the opportunity to know a bit about the young woman.

I most highly recommend this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome is such a beautiful and inspiring photography collection by Mihaela Noroc – I had a smile on my face the entire time!

This book is a collection of 250 photographs of young women from over 55 countries, each accompanied by an inspiring anecdote that showcases their diverse backgrounds and cultures. It was created in hopes to inspire her daughter and other girls to be their true authentic selves.

I absolutely loved flipping through the colourful pages, seeing the author’s vibrant photographs and reading about all the amazing things these young women are passionate about and are capable of doing. It was inspiring reading about how some of them have stayed resilient and became trailblazers in uplifting young women in their communities. It was also very exciting to get a glimpse and learn about a variety of cultures from around the world. (A big shout out to the young women featured from Canada!)

This collection was such an inspiring read and I would recommend this to young women, parents, and educators. It was such an uplifting and empowering read that demonstrates that young women are absolutely capable of anything and everything!

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me an e-book to review. This review was initially published on NetGalley and Goodreads and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A fantastic book to share with young children. Starts some lovely discussions, beautiful images and inspiring stories.

Its an amazing collection of Photographs representing girls all across the world and various cultures. It clearly reflects the hardwork and the belief to connect and share stories of these girls.
I liked knowing more about various cultures, tribes, sports and above all the resilience behind smile of these young girls. It inspires and warms your heart , hoping for a beautiful world where their dreams come true.

This would have definitely been a much better experience through a physical copy than an ebook.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for this wonderful opportunity to share an honest feedback.

Beautiful book for middle age, YA. Introduction to girls in the world who share more than they differ. Writing is novice but the photos need little explanation. Do not purchase as a ebook.

The photography in this book is gorgeous! I could see this being used alongside an around-the-world homeschool curriculum that focuses on different countries around the world. I appreciate the diversity in hobbies presented--in both pictures and short descriptions--that allows a reader to see the similarities and differences between each girl and region.

I really enjoyed reading this one. The photos are vibrant and beautiful. Each girl's face shines through the pages and portrays stunning elements of diverse cultures and places around the world. Looking at each unique picture from cities and villages all around the world was so interesting and kept me hooked from beginning to end. Seeing so many wonderful, happy faces of girls pursuing their passions or simply finding space to exist creates such a lovely community that we, as women, can all feel apart of. I think Noroc really did something special here with her photography and would recommend giving this book a try simply to enjoy her art that she spent so much timing accruing and formatting. This is definitely a special and rewarding project worth your time.

I would have given this book 5 stars easily just for photographs, but there was something a little lacking in the writing for me. The descriptions of each photo sufficed but the blurbs could have used slightly more embellishment. There was nothing wrong with the words, and I didn't notice any major mistakes or anything like that. The word choice could have simply used a little more flowery fluff to make them feel as magical as the photos. I also thought the text pages could have been more embroidered with lyrical sentences instead of falling more on the flat side of writing. Noroc's words are still powerful, and she tackles so many important topics and struggles that many girls and women face around the world.

This minor suggestion on my part should in no way stop you from picking up a copy of this book, as it really was a good read and a lovely concept. Seems like it would make a great coffee table book. Noroc has another book out that was published back in 2017. I'm curious about it and will be picking it up at some point in the future.

I received a free electronic download copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy.

This picture nook is a collection of 250 portraits of young girl who belongs to different part of the world. Myriad of the girls who have been shown special in their own ways but still prejudices of author didn't seemed to left her.

Mentioned in the excerpt 'Their gaze into the camera reveals their strength and tenacity, their joy and fun-seeking spirits' was not showing uniformity in all the details mentioned. Part of one the countries mentioned, INDIA, I could say very accurately that the display of poverty and helplessness that has been shown here is not the reality for all girls. There are girls who won Olympics and achieved high positions politics and MNCs, and many more in the queue in their current teenage, but yet author chose to click the ones who can be inspiration to none but need support to get their career right on track.
Status gaps and differences of colored & White depicted all over.

Also, there are many times girls' portraits from same countries repeatedly pasted rather that shown it all together under on country as an umbrella; or could have covered on from all countries to cover 250.

This is an extraordinary book that deserves nothing less than five stars. The collection of powerful photographs and inspiring stories showcases the true essence of young girls from diverse backgrounds and cultures. What amazed me the most was the unexpected mention of my country Lebanon not just once, but twice! As a small and less-known country, it's heartwarming to see it represented alongside other more prominent nations. Mihaela Noroc's work beautifully captures the strength, tenacity, and joy of these girls, reminding us of our shared humanity. This book is a celebration of the unique spirit that makes each girl awesome in her own special way. Highly recommended!

Girls of the World is a beautiful collection of photos of girls around the world. It showcases girls from different countries, different ages, different walks of life, and focuses on different themes, such as be free and be happy. I love how it includes so many different cultures, attitudes, and hobbies, from the hopeful Olympic athletes to little girls in remote villages riding and living with their animals, and everything in between. Absolute GEM that every girl should see!

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review on the book!

I am so impressed with this book! The author travelled worldwide with her young daughter taking pictures of girls at work and play all around the globe. The pictures are stunning in their beauty, and the commentary emphasizes what girls can do/are doing.

This is a powerful and empowering book that deserves to be in every library, recreation center, elementary, middle, and high school. Let our young girls see what they can achieve and accomplish; let them see how beautiful they are!

My sincere thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for allowing me to access an advance copy of this delightful book via NetGalley. The book is scheduled for release on 11/7/23. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

This visually interesting representation of girls around the world in 250 photos is an emotional journey. Mihaela takes the reader through hardship and privilege, discrimination, and limitations all with photos and a short blurb alongside to give context. In most, the girls are smiling and it isn’t until one reads the story that the full impact is made.

Broken into themes such as “be free” and “be happy”, Mihaela offers her perspective on the challenges and progress made for and by girls. We have travelled far, this is the best time to be a girl in the world, and yet the inequality still runs deep. I appreciated the diversity in the book, both culturally and in terms of how the girls chose to portray themselves. There are princesses and tomboys, high-performing athletes, and playground kids, it’s wonderfully inclusive.

Whilst highlighting how far we still need to go, the book has an uplifting spirit about it and a positivity I enjoyed! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very informative book about women of all backgrounds. It teaches children about different cultures and who/ what they stand for.