The Dirt Girl by Jodi Dee

What I Loved:

I absolutely adored the illustrations in this book! They are stunning with vibrant colors and wonderful details for the kids to really look at and enjoy!

My Synopsis:

Zafera is starting school for the first time. She’s different than the other children, but she doesn’t know it. They give her weird looks and talk about her, but she doesn’t notice any of it. She doesn’t know that the twigs in her hair and dirt on her clothes make her different. She’s a happy, healthy girl happy to be experiencing school and other children.

It’s time for her birthday party and she invites everyone! When the children get to the party they are all blown away by the location. Zafera’s home is beyond anything they could have ever imagined! Tucked into a hillside, it’s part of the earth. They play and explore the wonders of her home, and get to know Zafera for who she is, not what she wears.

How I Felt:

I really enjoyed the message this story provides. I liked that the children were not horrible to Zafera, it was more that they didn’t understand her. Her birthday party provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to see her in her own setting, and appreciate her.

The main character, Zafera, is a friendly, happy girl. I loved that she doesn’t even notice the looks and off-putting behavior of the other children. Her birthday invitation offered all the children a chance to get to know her, and I liked that they found they enjoyed Zafera’s company and friendship.

The illustrations were absolutely wonderful. We must have spent 10 minutes looking at Zafera’s house. I couldn’t get my daughter to let me turn the page! Each page is drawn and colored perfectly, and it made the book come to life as we read.

I’m absolutely rating this book a 5 star because it’s lovely and has a great story, however, I did not like the emphasis on Zafera becoming popular. I would like to see a bit more on the children just liking her for who she is.

Overall, I loved The Dirt Girl. The illustrations were beautiful, as was the main character. The story was lovely with a wonderful message about the importance of being who you are.

To Read or Not To Read:

I would recommend The Dirt Girl for children in pre-k through 3rd grade. I think that any child would enjoy and get something out of this book!

Where to Find This Book:

The Dirt Girl by Jodi Dee is available at these sites.

Bookshop.org | Amazon Kindle | Amazon | Goodreads

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When Zafera goes to school for the first time, all the children laugh and tease. But, Zafera does not understand so she just smiles.

A beautiful story about shining bright no matter what, because our differences are our greatest gifts. And if you do, others will eventually see. Zafera is a normal, beautiful little girl, yet she often has dirt on her hands and twigs in her hair. When Zafera goes to school for the first time, all the children stare and tease. Find out how she becomes the most popular girl in school!

A multi-award winning book with 5 star reviews! “A must have for all children!”, “Spectacular!” “Timeless.” “It’s a beautiful book with a beautiful story that should be part of every child’s library!” The Dirt Girl – By Jodi Dee.

Just the Facts:

The Dirt Girl by Jodi Dee
Genre: Children’s
Page Count: 36 pages
Publisher: Jodi Dee Publishing
Pub Date: February 11, 2019