A Story About Afiya

From the Series Lantana Global Picture Books

  • Interest Level: Kindergarten - Grade 2
  • Reading Level: Grade 2

Every day, Afiya wakes to a brand new day and a clean white dress, ready for her adventures to begin…

Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October leaves falling. A joyful celebration of a young girl’s childhood, written by the late Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Jamaican poet James Berry.

WINNER of the Northern Lights Book Awards Picture Book of the Year. USBBY Outstanding International Book 2021. New York Times, 25 Best Children’s Books of 2020. A Guardian Children’s Book of the Month.

“A joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place”—The New York Times, 25 Best Children’s Books of 2020

“A unique and beautiful combination of poetic story and expressive art”—Kirkus Reviews

“An exquisite celebration of the simple magic of childhood”—Shelf Awareness

“Gorgeous”—School Library Journal

“A book to treasure”—Books for Keeps, 5 STARS

Format Your Price Add
978-1-911373-33-9
$13.49
978-1-913747-40-4
$23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Kindergarten - Grade 2
Reading Level Grade 2
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Category Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diversity
Copyright 2020
Publisher Lantana Publishing
Imprint Lantana Publishing
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2020-04-07
Text Type Poetry
BISACS JNF069000, JNF038050, JNF042000
Dewey 821
Dimensions 9 x 9.75
Lexile 670
ATOS Reading Level 3.5
Accelerated Reader® Points 0.5
Features Awards, Original artwork, Reviewed, and Teaching Guides

Awards

  • Kate Greenaway Medal Nominee, Nominated, 2022
  • Notable Award 2021 USBBY Outstanding International Book, Winner, 2021
  • Notable Award White Ravens 2021 List, Winner, 2021

Reviews

The New York Times Book Review

“[A] joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place . . . "—The New York Times

The New York Times

" [A] joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place. . ."—The New York Times

Shelf Awareness

“James Berry’s ‘A Story About Afiya’ makes its debut in this visually spectacular edition illustrated by Brazilian artist Anna Cunha.”—Shelf Awareness

Kirkus Reviews

“A unique and beautiful combination of poetic story and expressive art.”—Kirkus Reviews