Pretty Ugly

Reach for this book when your child is obsessing over a blemish or feeling like they do not fit the narrow definition of what looks good. It is a perfect antidote for a child struggling with self-consciousness, offering a hilarious and slightly gross perspective on why our flaws might actually be our best features. In this subverted fairy tale, a young monster named Anna finds herself in a crisis when she accidentally looks beautiful, a true disaster in her world of warts and slime. Through absurdist humor, David Sedaris flips the script on traditional beauty standards, allowing children to see that being pretty is subjective and often far less interesting than being uniquely ourselves. It is a secular, playful exploration of identity that uses monster tropes to deconstruct vanity and celebrate the joy of looking exactly like the wonderful mess you are. While it is appropriate for ages five through nine, it is especially effective for those who are starting to compare themselves to their peers.