Strong Is the New Pretty

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Strong Is the New Pretty: Fierce. Joyful. Messy. Proud. A Photographic Celebration of Girls Being Themselves.

What an absolutely joyful book to read and view. It isn't often that books like these come along but when they do, you just have to talk about them.

Essentially what we have here are girls - ranging from the age of 5 to 22 - talking about what it means to them to be 'strong.' While there may only be one line quotes from each of the girls, they is so much power and passion in those few words.

Adding to that, the photos are amazing, capturing the girls in all forms of activity - from dancers, to sports, to music, to relaxation. This book covers it all. The photos are funny, serious, heart-wrenching and evocative. They make the reader "feel" something and, when coupled with the quotes, it makes for a very powerful statement.

Well done to the author and publishers for creating such a beautiful book.


Paul
ARH

This book is phenomenal. As soon as this book is out I want to buy a copy to read with my future daughter.

To be strong means so many things. Having confidence, being resilient and creative, determined and fearless. This book gives women, young and old, inspiration to do whatever the hell they want to do. Boundaries exist only in the mind, and these mindsets are slowly falling away.

Complemented by beautiful photos, these quotes from young women cover different areas of strength and talent. Runners, swimmers and hockey players - to girls who live with or have beaten serious illnesses.

Sometimes I hear stories from around the world about how girls are treated and I despair. But then I read a book like this and realise that this is changing, slowly. Girls need to know that nothing can hold them back. Boys and girls may have slightly different bodies but we all have strength in one way or another.

I loved this book. It's a big, bold celebration of life and the short snippets and quotes of the girls portrayed in it give me so much hope for future generations. It should be recommended reading in schools.

Strong is the New Pretty is the type of book that I'd like to see on the bookshelf of every girl in America. Kate T. Parker takes the images and statements of girls of different ages, and promotes them living their lives and showing what they are good at. From sports and science, to writing and just running around and being a kid, the girls in Strong is the New Pretty are photographed being themselves, and it makes all the difference.
The quotes in the book range from heartbreaking looks at girls who have risen up from the loss of family to the hilarious smile of a little girl at the age of 7 with so much joy that you cannot help but smile while looking at her image. Strong is the New Pretty is highly inclusive, with multiple races and walks of life being represented. This isn't a book that highlights one community over another. Parker does an excellent job of trying to creating a book that gives girls a chance to see a reflection of themselves in the pages. The book includes quotes from successful women and does an incredible job of getting the message across that girls are precious an important.

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I love this photo book! It has great pictures of strong girls and quotes for each picture, as well as a few paragraphs before each section. The author explores different topics related to strength like kindness, independence, and challenges. This is a must have for anyone who has a daughter or a friend with a daughter. This would be a wonderful gift and a great reminder for adult women too. I would love to see the final print version when it comes out and I would love to have the physical book. If I ever have a daughter this would definitely be something that I would share with her.

From my Goodreads account: Wow! I just got a reading copy of this book from Netgalley, and it blew me away. Not only are the photos stunning, but the quotes and captions are incredible. I just wanted to have a poster of each one of these.

"Nothing wrong with dancing with your dog," says Ella, age 9. And you should see the joyous photo.

"Cancer stole part of my leg but not my joy," says Grace B., age 12. "I choose happiness. Being happy is my superpower."

"Sometimes I fall off....but I get up, wipe off the dirt, pat my pony, and get back on," says Sophia A., age 6.

And from Lesley, who is pictured with an American flag and ROTC uniform, says, "Many girls grew up dreaming of a hero to save them. I grew up dreaming of becoming one."

The girls in this book range from age 5 to 20, and they are covered with mud, sprinkled with freckles, sporting eyeblack, and lacing up soccer cleats or ballet shoes. Some are in wheelchairs, some have limbs in casts, and some are sprinting to victory. But the eyes of every one are shining bright.

Kate Parker says in the introduction that she began with photos of her own daughters, but she added others from across North America to create a good range of girls doing things they love and being themselves. She adds in quotes from famous women ranging from Megan Rapinoe to Gabby Douglas to Katie Couric for extra inspiration. The hour that it takes to read this book will inspire you and motivate you to find your passion and pursue it. The author info says that Ms. Parker launched a nonprofit called StrongIsTheNewPretty.org, but either I mistyped it or it doesn't exist yet, because I couldn't find it online. Maybe it will launch once the book is released.

I will definitely acquire a copy for our library, but I can also see this as an excellent graduation gift book once it comes out next March.

The girls in this book are strong, independent, self-aware, brave and fiercely determined - qualities. They share their insights about what it is like to be themselves against society's expectations. The photos are beautiful and capture the spirits of each of the girls. This book shows an essence of girlhood which is openly neglected - the desire of girls to participate in world rather than being pushed aside and kept in frills and lace, which seems to be where society (still!!) wants to keep them.

As the mother of a girl who is also strong, independent, self-aware, brave and fiercely determined, I want this book on my coffee table.

STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY is a book filled with photographs of girls being themselves.

There is no air-brushing here and no staged photos. Photographer Kate T. Parker started this project by taking photographs of her two daughters. She “wanted to showcase her girls as they are … loud, messy, silly, fearless, independent, confident and fierce. Through her images she wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women and girls: that beauty is a hairstyle, a certain size or an outfit. Kate’s goal was to show that true beauty is in being yourself 100%.”


She has included pictures of children and teens who are just being themselves and each of whom is confident in their appearance. There are pictures of girls of different races and even pictures of girls who have physical challenges such as being confined to a wheelchair. I love that she included disabled girls since you rarely see photographs of these girls in mainstream media. Included with each picture is a quote from that specific girl. These quotes are raw and unpolished and 100% real and I love that they have been included. It definitely adds authenticity to the photographs and to the core message of the book.


The one thing that disappointed me about this book was that almost every girl whose picture was included was either skinny or average sized. I only saw one picture of a girl who was a bit overweight. I think that any book that purports to celebrate girls “as they really are” should also include girls who are overweight yet who are still confident in their appearance. I was very disappointed that these girls seem to have been overlooked.
Despite the omission of overweight girls, I think this book is a triumph. It is something that every parent who has a female child should own and should be prominently displayed on their coffee tables where both the parent and the child can look at it frequently.

What better gift can you give to your daughter than proof that they can be and do anything and that they need not look a certain way to be beautiful. This is a wonderful book with an inspiring message. I rate STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY as 4 out of 5 Stars.

Hopefully the author/photographer will add pictures of girls who are overweight before the publication date. If that is done, my rating would change to 5 out of 5 Stars. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Repeat after me: Strong is the New Pretty. Hell to the yes. In Kate T. Parker’s debut book Strong is the New Pretty, readers find stunning photographs of and quote from young girls (from 3 to 19 years old) under section headers such as “Strong is the New Pretty,” “Kind is the New Pretty,” and “Unique is the New Pretty.” In the introduction, Parker states that the inspiration came from her history of professional photography. She often took posed photos of young girls, but found that the truly incredible shots were ones where the girls were being authentically themselves– loud, strong, messy, and funny.

I wish that this book was already released so I could buy a bunch of copies and send them out to my friends with young daughters. Actually, I wish that this book was already released so I could buy a bunch of copies and send them to everyone I know. Because this is what being a girl is all about– being authentically and unapologetically yourself, as many of us were as young children.

I found myself awestruck by the quotes– such inspiring, powerful words from such young girls. One eight-year-old remarked, “I can do all the same things as my brother. I just think I do them better.” Another girl, age ten, stated “Girls are intelligent, ambitious, strong people, and I’m proud to be one.” Other photos and quotes were silly, like a young girl making a face as she splashed in the tub.

If you are a girl, if you are related to a girl, if you know a girl: pre-order this book. Set it out on your coffee table so your guests can read it. Give it to all of your friends. Let it serve as a constant reminder to stay true to yourself and love exactly who you are. 5 STARS.

The strength, determination and potential shining back in these faces gives me great hope for this next generation. Glass ceilings will be shattered if books like this continue to be published and faceout on our shelves!

Strong is the New Pretty is girl power exemplified. Girls from all ages, races, sexuality and walks of life talking about strength, power and what it means to be pretty. In it are over 175 photographs and quotes meant to showcase natural girls doing what they love to do: be themselves.



I loved this book! I wished I had this book when I was growing up, especially in my teens. I was bullied at school for being not rail-thin and marching to my own drum. I sure could’ve used this book to boost up my self-esteem.



Professional photographer Kate T. Parker envisioned this book project as a way to unite girls and inspire them to be who they are, no matter what. Her eye for capturing real beauty in these girls is breath-taking. Well done, Parker!



I highly recommend this book to every girl, woman, parent, grandparent and friend! Its profound message needs to be taught to girls around the world. It certainly inspired me and I have already ordered my copy.



Watch out world, strong is the new pretty!



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Workman Publishing Company and Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



Favorite Quote:

“Being mentally strong is ten times harder than being physically strong. Mental stamina does not come from the muscles or from training. It comes from the heart…and from the mind. Calling on my heart is far more difficult than calling on my muscles.”



My Rating: 5+ stars