MARY HAD A LITTLE GLAM

Pinkalicious + Fancy Nancy + Eloise = Mary, the diminutive, precocious, brown-skinned queen of glam.

The day Mary starts school, she declares to her mom, “I must accessorize.” And she does. With bows, buttons, scarves, and even a sheep-shaped purse with an attitude, Mary turns heads all over town. Her drab-looking (though racially diverse) classmates at Mother Goose Elementary (Little Boy Blue, Georgie Porgie, and Little Bo Peep as well as the unnamed others) certainly appear to have stepped out of eras long gone by. The brown-skinned teacher, complete with a bun atop her crown, also appears to be a relic. Mary soon changes their glamless lives with beads, feather boas, sporty hats, and festive patterns aplenty. Mary’s makeover magic leaves no school subject or space unturned. When recess arrives, a crisis ensues, for the kids are dressed all wrong for romping. Undaunted, Mary knows exactly what to do. Sauer’s rhythm never falters, and Brantley-Newton’s bright, fun-filled illustrations teem with energy and life and will keep young readers guessing: who or what will Mary accessorize next, and how? The array of skin tones will help all readers see themselves in this book in which imagination and creativity reign supreme. Whether by happenstance or by design, this delightful picture book positively answers the call for more books about children of color that aren’t about civil rights or slavery.

Welcome, Mary! We hope to see you again.