Strong Is the New Pretty

January 2, 2017
This collection of girl-power portraiture showcases the message that girls should be encouraged to be themselves, boldly and wildly, eschewing artificial stereotypes perpetuated in a toxic social media culture. Inspired by her two young daughters, Atlanta-based photographer Parker uses her lens, artistic eye, and perspective as a mother to render a beguiling corpus of images of little girls being girls, which means displaying various versions of being strong (section titles include “Wild Is Strong,” “Creative Is Strong,” and so on.) In the introduction, Parker explains, “I didn’t ask them to smile or go put on a pretty dress. I wanted to capture the girls as they were”—except in the case of her daughter Ella, who explains she was “very scared” for her first triathlon. She explains, “My mom took this shot of me the night before and told me that even though I was afraid to race, to try to look tough and fearless.” This captures the book’s flaw: it feels contrived. Most young girls bear the marks of empowerment unselfconsciously and don’t need to be coached. Though the book is intended to celebrate girlhood, its heavy hand signals a more pointed idea of what girlhood ought to be. Photos.

January 1, 2017

Gr 3-6-What began as Parker's photography project portraying girls has blossomed into a lovely exploration filled with exquisite images of girls and quotes about what makes them strong, beautiful, and confident. (The text emphasizes that beauty has nothing to do with looks; it's what is on the inside that counts.) The book stresses traits such as resilience, creativity, kindness, and independence. Much of the message driving the work is to embrace different and alternative versions of girlhood and to escape the cultural expectations of what girls should aspire to be (pretty, thin, etc.). The photographs are stunning and range from close-up portraits to action shots. Each picture includes a thoughtful quote from the subject ("Strong girls never lose. They only learn, and come back stronger."). VERDICT The large photos invite browsers to linger and contemplate the girl-positive messages. Recommended.-Cynde Suite, Bartow County Library System, Adairsville, GA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
Professional photographer Parker discovered that the photos she took of her own two daughters being messy and funny and stubborn and joyful and in your face were the ones that invariably showed their truest, authentic selves. From this inspiration grew a photo series and website that rapidly drew online attention (and shares a name with this book). These enchanting new images feature about 200 girls, kindergartners to high-school grads, gloriously photographed in black and white and color, alongside their own words. For example, 16-year-old Aris pilots a plane, grinning ear to ear, and says, The sky is not the limitit's just a view. Maggie, age 9, still a little sweaty from her soccer game maybe, notes simply I am fearless. Mia, 8, asks, You know that sound when you yell into a fan? You should try it sometime, while she and her friends do just that. Parker shows how, whether smiling, looking tough, or helping one another out, these girls of various ages, pasts, and abilities are strong. Positively moving and totally glorious.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)