Written and Illustrated by Kenesha Sneed
Reviewed by Melody Falleur-Fettig (2021-2022)
A picture book provides many avenues to access the content. The images, ideas, and written words are carefully tailored by an author to tell their story. The book, Many Shapes of Clay, a Story of Healing, is a master work of meaning integrated delicately on every page. The story of Eisha, a small child with a mother who works with clay, is that of trying to understand a world that conjures big feelings while seeing the world through a simple, innocent, and sensory-saturated lens.
Human life and the art of creations from clay run parallel in their evolution throughout the story. Eisha and her Mom no longer have Eisha’s father in their lives. Their loss isn’t explicitly defined, allowing children of all ages a mirror for any experience of loss. The soothing pastel color pallet and beautiful, modern illustrations add yet another layer of engagement while reading the story. Young readers will be captivated by the bold use of shapes and the contrast of sharp lines to those of textured brush strokes.
The author, Kenesha Sneed, is a multi-disciplinary artist who has created art for many businesses and publishing companies. Her book could be integrated into classroom lessons related to problem solving and working through big emotions. This book is applicable to address student to student conflict but also to mirror what many children go through at home.
To learn more about Kenosha Sneed, visit her sites: