Laylee loves her special jacket, especially because it was given to her by her mother and her grandmother. When she wears it, the jacket makes her feel brave, bright, and full of possibility. But when other children begin to tease her about it, Laylee feels a sting she does not yet know how to name. A quiet worry begins to grow inside her and colors everything with a green-eyed feeling she wishes would go away. 

In this tender and beautifully illustrated story, children follow Laylee as she learns to understand her feelings and listen to the wisdom shared by the people who love her most. As she works through her emotions, Laylee begins to trust the goodness inside herself and find her confidence again. 

Set against the warmth of a Southern childhood, The Jacket and the Green Eye offers families and classrooms a meaningful way to talk about envy, belonging, and emotional resilience. Through gentle storytelling and relatable moments, the story creates space for important conversations about feelings that can be hard for young children to express. 

With care and kindness at its heart, The Jacket and the Green Eye reminds children that courage and compassion shine brighter than comparison, and that their inner light remains even on days when their spirit feels shaken.