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Mommy, am I pretty? (2nd Edition) - November 2019, - Toronto, Canada
Margot L. Denommé J.D. , illustrated by Madison & Brooke Denommé-Warren
ONCE THERE WAS A GIRL NAMED MOLLY WHO WONDERED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE “PRETTY”. So she asked her mother.
How does growing up in a culture obsessed with outward beauty affect the way children feel about themselves? This was the author’s question as she considered her young daughters. Her illustrated book, Mommy, Am I Pretty? began there.
Now in its second edition, the story of Mommy, Am I Pretty? paves the path to a conversation with children about real beauty – the kind that cannot be created or adjusted using filters and Photoshop.
Children are bombarded with images that suggest that what they see when they look in the mirror is not good enough. Distorted perceptions of beauty burst from the screens in their hands, their homes and at the malls.
Since first publication in 2013, Mommy, am I pretty? has moved into classrooms and communities, promoting a movement – one that sees young girls looking in, instead of out, when thinking about themselves and others. The Celebrate You! tour takes Margot Denomme’s message on the road, promoting the power of developing confidence by being kind, strong, inclusive and unique.
While walking home from school one day Molly asks her mom what it means to be “pretty”. Molly’s mother responds by reviewing Molly’s average day; at home, at school, and in her community, uncovering Molly’s moments of kindness, generosity, and confidence. Molly discovers that small gestures of compassion and friendship feel good, and that trying our best at whatever we do makes us feel strong and beautiful on the inside. With this discovery, Molly determines that being pretty on the inside is what matters most.
The Dove Self-Esteem Fund: “We’re loving the children’s book “Mommy, am I pretty?” by Margot Denomme. A beautiful read that instills the valuable lesson that real beauty lies within. A must-read.”
MARGOT DENOMMÉ practices law in Toronto where she lives with her daughters Madison and Brooke Denommé-Warren, who created the whimsical and captivating illustrations that bring Molly’s day to life. As a criminal lawyer, Margot sees the devastating effects of low self-esteem on youth and a disturbing rise in bullying.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
Margot Denommé
Margot.Denomme@yahoo.com
www.CelebrateYouInsideOut.com
416 414-2818
ISBN 978-0-9920340-1-6 • 32 pages • 2013 - 1st Edition Released - paperback edition available in US
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2019
Awesome Inside & Out
By Margot L. Denommé J.D.
Illustrations by Madison and Brooke Denommé-Warren, with featured illustrator Dr. David Maresky
Awesome Inside & Out! was inspired by the social pressures and self-esteem issues facing today’s youth. The story is designed to initiate dialogue with children (of all ages) about finding their passion, developing character and resilience, and understanding that true beauty comes from within... that is what makes you awesome from the inside out!
In this brightly illustrated picture book, twins Sam, who wants to be a performer and make people laugh, and Sofia, who loves science and wants to be an astronaut, ask their mother if they are, respectively, strong and pretty. While enjoying ice cream, their mother imparts important lessons, including that what makes a child awesome emanates from their own hearts and minds regardless of who they are, what they look like, or their gender.
In November 2013, Margot Denommé, a criminal lawyer in Toronto, embarked on a journey she never imagined. Writing and self-publishing the children’s book Mommy, am I pretty? was a labour of love, triggered by life with two young daughters, who illustrated the book. Mommy, am I pretty?’s positive reception was overwhelming and quickly evolved into a series of speaking engagements called the “Celebrate You! Tour.” Denommé spoke at many schools both in Canada and the Unites States, sharing the message that beauty comes from within and the importance of developing yourself from the inside-out, by being confident, kind, strong, inclusive and unique. It turns out the Ontario Minister of Education agreed, as did reviewers far and wide.
While on tour, the one question children most often asked Ms. Denommé was, “When are you going to write a book for boys?”
With the assistance of prominent pediatrician Dr. David Maresky, whose illustrations along with those by Ms. Denommé’s daughters, Madison and Brooke, she created and now introduces her new book, Awesome, Inside & Out!
This book encourages self-esteem, strong mental and emotional health and resilience in children – so key today given the social pressures, self-esteem issues, body-image concerns and bullying facing youth in this era of social media on steroids.
MARGOT L. DENOMMÉ J.D. practices criminal law in Toronto where she lives with her two daughters. As a criminal lawyer, she has seen the devastating effects of bullying, and the impact of low self-esteem on the mental health of youth.
For more information contact: Margot Denomme.
Book Details:
ISBN 978-0-9920340-3-0 • 24 pages • 2019 paperback edition available in US and Canada
ISBN 978-0-9920340-2-3 • 24 pages • hard cover • available in US and Canada
Contact: Margot Denommé
Email: margot.denomme@yahoo.com
Tel: 416-414-2818
For more information please visit: www.CelebrateYouInsideOut.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mommy, Am I Pretty? by Margot L. Denommé, illustrated by Madison & Brooke Denommé-Warren
Once there was a girl named Molly who wondered what it meant to be pretty. So she asked her mother.
August 2015 – Toronto, Canada
Young girls today are inundated daily with images that create unrealistic and often deceptive expectations of size and beauty. How does growing up in a culture obsessed with outward beauty effect this particularly impressionable and vulnerable demographic? This question amid concerns about raising her own two young daughters sparked the inspiration for her illustrated book, Mommy, Am I Pretty?
While walking home from school young Molly asks her mother what it means to be pretty. Molly’s mother guides her through her day at school, at home and in her community to uncover moments of kindness, generosity and confidence. Molly discovers that small gestures of compassion and friendship give us a loving heart and how trying our best at our favourite activity or sport makes us feel strong and beautiful on the inside. With this discovery she decides that being pretty on the inside is what matters most. Reading Mommy, Am I Pretty? with a child initiates a conversation on how being your best self, giving back to others, and being a thoughtful person is the true image of beauty and one that can’t be created through photo-shop.
The author’s own daughters, Madison and Brooke Denommé-Warren, created the whimsical and captivating illustrations that bring Molly’s day to life. Their hand-drawn and painted illustrations are the perfect complement to the simple verse, offering images of true beauty in the people and world around us from a young girl’s perspective.
MARGOT DENOMMÉ practices criminal law in Toronto, Ontario where she lives with her husband and two daughters. As a mother she is keenly aware of the negative effects media has on growing girls, and wrote this book to encourage dialogue between parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, and young girls with a view to empower them that true beauty lies within each and every one of them. As a criminal lawyer, Margot has seen the devastating effects of low self-esteem in youth and the ever-increasing incidents of bullying. In 2014, Margot created The Celebrate You Tour to take her message to both schools and community groups to discuss the importance of developing ourselves from the inside-out by being confident, kind, strong, inclusive and unique.
The messages in Mommy, Am I Pretty have resonated with prominent Canadian groups and organizers including, The Pediatric Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery division of the Hospital for Sick Children and The Dove Self-Esteem Fund Real Beauty Campaign. Margot has also become involved with a number of organizations in the United States including Girl’s on the Run and PACE Center for Girls.
Book Details:
ISBN 978-0-9920340-1-6 • 32 pages • 2015 paperback edition available in US and Canada
ISBN 978-0-9920340-0-9 • 34 pages • hardcover • available in US and Canada
Contact: Margot Denommé
Email: margot.denomme@yahoo.com
Tel: 416-414-2818
For more information please visit: mommyamipretty.com
