I love the message and beauty of this book with empowering words and an uplifting song. It not only includes why to feel good about yourself, but also what to do and say to other people who may be feeling down and misunderstood.

Such a positive book about beauty from the inside out! I love that readers can access the song, a wonderful message that every child (and some adults) need to hear.

"Beauty can come in different ways,
in different sizes, in different shades."

The cover and illustrations of "You’re Beautiful" are absolutely gorgeous, making it such an exciting read for children—especially coming from a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and acclaimed film director! This book is a vibrant celebration of diversity and self-acceptance that kids will fall in love with.

From the very first page, the story introduces us to a little girl who faces hurtful comments about her brown skin. But don’t worry; her loving parents help her see the beauty within herself and others through a cherished lullaby. The message here is powerful: our differences make us unique and special!

The illustrations are beyond stunning—colorful, lively, and full of movement! They perfectly complement the text, making the whole reading experience visually appealing and fun for kids. Plus, the book includes a QR code that links to a catchy song! How cool is that? It allows kids to engage with the story on another level, reinforcing the uplifting message.

Throughout the book, we see a mix of children and families, showcasing various shades of skin, body types, and styles, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of human beauty. This narrative not only teaches young readers about embracing their individuality but also encourages inclusivity—a fantastic lesson for kids today.

Overall, "You’re Beautiful" is a heartwarming read that’s perfect for storytime. It’s great for sparking discussions about self-esteem and acceptance, and I highly recommend it for any parent or educator looking to instill confidence in young children. It’s a delightful reminder that we're all beautiful in our own way, and this lovely book absolutely deserves a spot on every child's bookshelf!

I love how this book started off with one little girl but then builds to other children and how that all comes together in a space for the same message. Teaching both diversity and inclusion.
I also enjoyed the video of the accompanying song and how the author ties it all together. Thank you to the authors, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This was such a sweet book that I think little ones will love! It also comes with a WR code to a YT video
That includes a song and some more context. It’s catchy and such a great message for any age child. I love the representation in the book! This book teaches well beyond the words on the page through the beautiful illustrations.


I am thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley and so I can leave my voluntary review.

My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! This is a sweet story about the beauty of our skin and the real beauty within each person. My 3yo like the words and illustrations. After reading the book to her, I realized that there is a QR code leading to a YouTube video of the song. That’s what made it for me. It was such a sweet video of the author and his kids and the more context for the lyrics/text of the book. I recommend!

You're Beautiful is about how our differences make us special and making sure we don't let others make us believe otherwise. This is something that definitely comes up for kids in different ways and this would be a great SEL resource for younger kids. The illustrations are vibrant and show a lot of movement. I thought it was really cool that there was a song to go along with the story.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This was a cute story about being happy and comfortable in your own skin! It shows several different families and how each is different. We’re all a mix (or recipe!) of our parents and we’re each just right! This speaks perfectly to young children who may feel left out because they look one way or another in comparison to their peers but inside we’re all made the same.

Excellent job of illustrating the authors story and for providing a song that goes along with the story. The book is very visually appealing for young readers. The book embraces everybody's differences and celebrates how they were made (tall, freckles, shades of skin, glasses, silly, etc). There is a song in the beginning of the book that you can actually listen to by scanning a QR code. The song and book really focus on the beauty of brown skin, but they do reference all skin colors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This book is set to publish on May 6, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy
I loved this book because I have always struggled with confidence and self esteem, and I think it is a very important lesson to teach children. I also loved the illustrations. If I had a kid, I would read them this book.

A book addressing how children should feel comfortable in their own skin color even if other children may try to present it as abnormal.

This is such a beautiful children's book! The images are amazing, and the text is super cute. I think this is such a great way of making children understand each of them are beautiful in their own way.

I don't usually read such small children's books, but I accidentally applied for this one, and, somehow got it. And if this opportunity showed, well, I took it! And it was worth it! I loved it very much and I'm actually thinking of buying this book for my nieces when it comes out!

What a sweet book - such a great message about inclusivity an embracing our differences. I love that it comes with a song!

Quick Summary: A children's book focused on self-acceptance

My Review: You're Beautiful by Mauli Bonner and Chantel Bonner is a children's fiction book scheduled for release in May 2025. It features the art work of Gigi Moore.

About the Book: "When a young girl faces hurtful comments about the color of her brown skin, her compassionate parents share with her a cherished lullaby about her beauty both inside and out."

In My Own Words: A beautiful, little girl is questioned about her appearance while on the playground. She speaks with her family about it. They help her to see just how special she and others are.

My Final Say: This is a cute and colorful book with a positive message. The story is sweet and uplifting. The art work is spectacular. The colorful characters immediately drew this reader in. I loved the diversity.

Other: This would be fantastic as a family read aloud, as a library book club read, and as a child's gift.

Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Kids (ages 4-8)
Cover: +
Illustrations: +
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sincere appreciation is extended to the authors, to the illustrator, to the publisher (Shadow Mountain Publishing | Shadow Mountain), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this work.

Thank you for granting my wish to read and review this ARC!

First off, the illustrations are beautiful. The colors and artwork are vibrant and eye catching. I enjoyed the uplifting of different races, ethnicities and sizes. It would have been nice to include different abilities too! Overall, this was a fun, inclusive read. Great job.