Author: Jodi
Dee
Illustrator:
Jodi Dee and Ed Espitia
Publisher: Jodi
Dee
Released: February
14, 2019
Format:
Kindle, paperback, hard cover
ISBN: 9780998527703
Reviewer:
Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 3
1/2 Lemon Drops
Review:
The Dirt Girl introduces us to a flower child
named Zafera. Zafera has a profound attachment to nature. This connection suffuses
Zafera’s everyday life, from the flowers and twigs that adorn her hair, to the
homemade wicker basket where she keeps her school lunch along with a few
ladybugs and butterflies.
The
story follows Zafera as she navigates through her first school experience. Initially,
the other children scorn Zafera’s bohemian garb. For weeks, they tease and
exclude her. At first, Zafera is confused and saddened by this treatment, but
quickly learns to accept it and smile through it.
Despite
the repeated snubs, Zafera invites her classmates to her birthday party and
introduces them to a nature-based lifestyle. The children are thunderstruck
with her Hobbit-like house and the vivid beauty that flourishes in and around
her home. It’s no surprise that once they understand Zafera and her way of
life, they come to accept and emulate her.
I
appreciated the book’s positive messages of self-love and environmental
awareness. Zafera remained true to herself and her naturalistic ideals.
In
an age of digital saturation and civil turmoil, children need exposure to stories
that honor diversity and our relationship to the earth.
The
illustrations are bright, colorful, and visually invite the reader to explore
Zafera’s extraordinary world.
I
liked the story, but I must address a few things that confused me. First, I was unable to discern Zafera’s age range. At the beginning of the story, I thought
she was in Kindergarten or First Grade, but the dress styles and body language
of the other characters suggest they’re older—more like middle-school age.
The
fact that Zafera easily brushed off her schoolmates’ mistreatment seems impractical.
Ostracization from peers takes a toll on children’s self-esteem. It affects
them socially and emotionally.
I
also wondered where the adults were during all of this. There’s little to no
representation of adults in the text. We don’t even see them as a background
character in an illustration. The only time grown-ups appear is after the
story’s resolution. Where was Zafera’s mother or father when she started her
first day of school or during the birthday party at Zafera’s house?
A
conversation with a grown-up addressing Zafera’s problem would have rounded out
the story better. The birthday party idea could have resulted from this
discussion.
I give it 3 1/2 Lemon Drops!
Classroom Connection:
The Dirt Girl would work in conjunction with
other stories that address accepting differences and the environment.
After
a reading, students can arrange flowers in vases, go for a walk in the park, and
discuss what makes each member of the class special.
About The Author
Jodi Dee is a multi-award-winning Author, regular columnist for Bay State Parent Magazine, and an avid blogger. She is a mother of three with more than 20 years’ experience in early childhood and education.
Jodi has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & History and a Master's
in Education from Clark University. She is a passionate advocate and teacher of
emotional maturity, early childhood education, and empowering children to learn
through creativity, autonomy, self-exploration, and discovery.
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