Kindle Edition Amazon Queen of the Pen Books Princess Onyx™ Category:  Children Publisher: Queen of the Pen Books ISBN-10:  1479224898 Type: Fiction Pages: 43 Copyright: Feb 21, 2013 ISBN-13: 9781479224890 One day, Jaydah came home from school crying. She ran to the sofa and buried her head in a pillow. In the Black community, many Black girls have it tough. Their skin is too dark. Their hair is too nappy. Their nose is too broad. What is the impact on Black girls who are criticized for their God-given features? Author Clarissa Burton has created Princess Onyx™ children’s book series that addresses these issues in an easy to read and easy to understand fashion. Also, the beautiful illustrations bring Princess Onyx™ stories to life! This is a Children’s Book Series That Addresses Black Girls and Colorism within the Black Community.       Excerpt One day, Jaydah came home from school crying. She ran to the sofa and buried her head in a pillow. Her grandmother, Tata, sat down next to her. “Why are you crying?” Tata asked, caressing Jaydah’s back. "Today a boy called me ugly because my skin is dark," said Jaydah as tears rolled down her cheeks. "My beautiful gem," Tata said softly, gently wiping the tears from Jaydah's face. "You are far from ugly. You are beautiful and exquisite like a beautiful and precious gem."

A delightful book that teaches children about being kind
By Israel Drazin

This book about a young black girl can be read and enjoyed by people of all races and religions. A beautiful girl, Jayda, who is so full of life, is crying because a school-mate said that her dark skin made her ugly. Her grandmother consoled her by telling her a story about a princess. The princess' parents wanted to protect her from the bad behavior of people in their kingdom, but the princess persuaded them to let her go out to play with other children. She saw that the children laughed at a poor girl, her own age, because of her dark color, the same color of her skin. She learned about how people act and why they are not kind. And she learns, as we can from her, how people should behave.

A Perfect Example of How to Teach Equality and Diminish Racial Bias
By Grady Harp

Clarissa Burton has found exactly the right way to deal with children's (and adult's) problems with racism. This is a beautifully written (and equally beautifully illustrated by Jason Brooks) book about a precious young black girl named Jaydah who witnesses verbal abuse because of the color of her skin. She is devastated, cries when her grandmother attempts to assuage her pain, but is willing to listen to a story her Tata tells her.

In a kingdom far away named Jet there lived a King Stygian, a Queen Sable, and their beautiful daughter Princess Onyx who loved playing in the palace courtyard with all the beauties of nature. One day Onyx notices children playing Toss the Ball and she pleads with her wary parents to be allowed to play with these children. Princess Onyx is accompanied by her lady-in-waiting Ruby, enters the playing area and all the children bow to her - as she is royalty. Onyx asks to play the game, but in order to do so someone must be omitted from a team: the omitted one is a poor little black girl (Ebony) dressed in taters who is `too dark and ugly to play anyway'. Onyx takes on Ebony as her friend, informs the children they are rude, and escorts Ebony into the palace where she is welcomed, as is her family who come to live in the palace grounds. Onyx's parents commend their daughter for being kind and not showing prejudice and for rescuing Ebony from the bad manners of the other children. Onyx is indeed a Precious Gem. The story comes to an end and Jaydah understands the meaning and is rewarded by Tata by making `Princess Onyx brownies'.

Stories such as this one speak loudly and should become part of the curriculum of all grade school children and families no matter the color of their skin or their language or all the other things that bring a beautiful since of variety to the living experience. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 13