A brown-skinned girl who eventually overcomes her shyness through the enjoyment of poetry and the encouragement of her teacher.
The new teacher, Miss Flotsam, is an eccentric woman by appearance and nature. She arrives at a diverse school when a read-aloud school poetry performance is announced, and she “loves poetry. ” The class shares her enthusiasm, apart from a girl who is deeply concerned – the narrator. Miss Flotsam keeps pupils engaged by sharing her stories from around the world and being firm with the children who criticise the girl for never speaking.
The girl seems encouraged by her teacher and by the writing process. Her expression changes whenever she adds a line or a verse to her poem. She shares her poetry in front of the class, even if it feels overwhelming, as shown on several spreads how the girl climbs a mountain, standing on a cliff, but thanks to her determination, she soon discovers that her “voice is beautiful”.
“My Beautiful Voice” shows that the teacher can inspire someone to find their voice and build self-confidence and fulfilment. Writing seems to be therapy for the girl to express herself and blossom. Allison Colpoys conveys the diversity and creativity in the story through the combination of bright, cheerful colours of orange, purple, and green. As everyone seems to fear at least a little public performance, this picture book is an excellent read for young people, particularly timid children.
The Stats:
- Title: My Beautiful Voice
- Author and Illustrator: Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys
- ISBN: 978-0-7112-4831-1
- Publication Date: 2021
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Frances Lincoln
- Recommended age: 5-8
- Categories/Topic: Shyness, School, Poetry
Further Information:
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