Firenze's Light

Adorable with Great Message

I wish I'd had a book like this as a child! The art is adorable and beautiful - especially in how it almost really seems to glow when Firenze does. There are little puns for the adults to appreciate, such as Gnatalie. And, of course, the message is a very good one - portrayed in a refreshingly realistic manner.

For the sake of curious parents/guardians, I'm providing a general plot outline.

Firenze hates the glow which makes her unique, so she decides to hide it. Her mother encourages her to embrace her unique trait, but Firenze is so embarrassed by how it makes her stand out that she hides it regardless. Her friends miss how she used to help them and enrich their lives with her glow, but she runs away and meets a bug who makes art with his pincers. He encourages her by saying he used to hate his pincers as well, but Firenze - like anyone in real life with her issue - says she wishes she could embrace her glow but simply can't. So her new friend makes her a beautiful piece of art to wear, which makes her glow cast patterns everywhere. She gains confidence from all the praise and learns to love herself.