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Is Lena Pretty?

An Interview with Liza Dora

By Jolie Gray February 10, 2016

Liza Dora is the author and illustrator of Is Lena Pretty?, a children’s book focused on developing young girls’ self-image and self-esteem.

Jolie Gray: Where did you get the inspiration for Is Lena Pretty?

Liza Dora: It actually came from a post I wrote called It’s (Not) A Boy. My husband is a former professional athlete and he was asked by a fan in the grocery store if he wished our 3 month old daughter were a boy. I was shocked and hurt and angry. The fan shook my husband’s hand and said: “but she’s pretty though.” It seemed like not only was she a disappointment for being a girl but she should have to make up for it with her looks. I was on fire for weeks afterwards and ultimately (after cooling off) I started working on Is Lena Pretty?.

JG: What is the message behind Is Lena Pretty?

LD: The message is just that while it’s more likely a girl will have comments made regarding her appearance, the people in her life (family, teachers, caregivers) need to talk about her other attributes. Maybe she’s awesome at soccer or playing the piano? Maybe animals love her? Maybe she’s interested in cooking? Maybe she likes to build things? Or is awesome at math? Let’s talk about that.

JG: Why did you choose to self-publish?

LD: Mainly, because I trust the people around me and they said go for it. I was diagnosed with cancer this year and during the first few months of the diagnoses I really focused on spending time with my daughter and thinking about the world she was growing up in — with or without me. She’s 18 months old and this book was something I’d want her to know. I didn’t think I had the time to waste going a more traditional route to publication.

JG: Who is the book for?

LD: I think it’s obviously well-suited for young girls. I would love to know this book was being read to infants and toddlers and being read by young girls to their parents or friends and just to themselves. I wanted to express this message as a children’s book because I think the earlier we start helping our girls lay a foundation for their self-image, the better.

JG: This book deals with both self-image and self-esteem, did you struggle with those growing up?

LD: I think all girls/women do at some point. I was really unhappy with my looks growing up, but I felt really good about other aspects of myself. I always though I was smart. That I was nice. That I was good at things. But growing up, I had support from many of the people around me not every girl is so lucky.

JG: What are some ways we can help girls have a positive self-image?

LD: I think we can help our girls by giving them different role models. All kids, really. We’re such a celebrity culture, now. When I was teaching, I never heard kids talk about wanting to be doctors or lawyers or vets. It was always athletes, models, singers —celebrities. For some people I think that’s a real possibility, but that doesn’t make everything short of famous a failure. Girls need to see female engineers and computer programmers. Female accountants and astrophysicists. We need to show our girls that successful women come in many forms and there are so many different parts of their own personalities and skill-sets to take pride in.

JG: Anything you were nervous about before publishing ILP?

LD: There is such a hair controversy about this book. I want to go on record saying Lena’s real “Papi” has hair on top of his head, but as an illustrator I decided to go in a different direction. Also my husband has dreads. I left them off because, artistically, I could not do them justice. Actually, so far I’ve had really positive feedback. I’m really flattered by all the things people have said about the book. Basically the editor of the book has been my biggest critic so far.

JG: As it should be.

Is Lena Pretty?, written and Illustrated by Liza Dora, will be available May 1st in Hardcover and eBook. You can also find Liza on Twitter, Facebook and at her website lizadora.com.