Black Barbie

Celebrate the creator of the world’s first Black Barbie in this inspiring story about Kitty Black Perkins, the visionary toy designer who helped define the course of Barbie’s history.

Ever since she was little, Kitty Black Perkins loved making clothes for dolls. She’d cut the materials using paper, creating outfits and accessories from a rainbow of colors and patterns. So when she saw an ad to work for Mattel designing clothes for Barbie, she jumped at the opportunity. But it never felt right to Kitty that all the dolls had the same skin tone, and she wished there was a Barbie that looked like her and her family and neighbors back home in South Carolina.
 
This inspiring true story celebrates the life of Kitty Black Perkins, whose creativity and confidence led to the production, manufacturing, and marketing of the first Black Barbie doll. It’s a radiant portrait of the woman who dared to see herself in Barbie, allowing children to do the same.

• Praise for Black Barbie
  
  “Kitty’s story is both relatable and inspiring, centering her love of dolls and fashion and showing how her confidence and determination solidified her path... This book is perfect for anyone who loves dolls or fashion and offers a shining example of following one’s dream to its zenith. Delightful and edifying.”—Kirkus Reviews
  
  “Black’s influential career is captured in Freeman’s bold, digitally created illustrations that realistically depict the designer throughout her life ... An uplifting tribute to a remarkable individual that provides a strong message that anyone can channel their talents to become a force for progress and change.”
  School Library Journal