Mary Had a Little Glam

Tammi Sauer is the author of Chicken Dance, Bawk and Roll, Cowboy Camp, and Your Alien, which has earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus (all Sterling). She is an active blogger (tammisauer.com) and highly involved in the children's writer community, in addition to being a great promoter of her own books. Tammi has worked as a teacher and library media specialist and now lives in OK with her husband and their two children. Her local indie bookstore, Best of Books, in Edmond, OK, has named July 9th Tammi Sauer Day. Follow her on Twitter at @SauerTammi. Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator whose passion for children’s books began when she came across Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats as a child in the 1960s. Snowy Day marked one of the first representations of black children in picture books, and seeing a character that looked like her and lived in a neighborhood like her own was a turning point in Vanessa’s life. Vanessa hopes to inspire young readers as Keats did for her and a generation of children. She is the author and illustrator of Let Freedom Sing and Don’t Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table (both Blue Apple Books), and has illustrated numerous children’s books including One Love and Every Little Thing (both Chronicle), words by Bob & Cedella Marley, and Presenting Tallulah (Aladdin), written by Tori Spelling. Vanessa lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.

*“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.” —Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)“. . . a gleeful story starring a young black fashionista . . . . Tammi Sauer's (Chicken Dance; Cowboy Camp) wordplay is as spirited as the story . . .  Illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton . . . captures the giddy makeover mayhem in the dramatic expressions of her characters and in her wonderful, freewheeling use of collaged fabrics and vintage papers. . . . [an] exuberant picture-book ode to the fun of fashion.” —Shelf Awareness“Move over, Fancy Nancy—there’s a new glamour queen in town! Mary’s number one goal for her new year at school is to look absolutely fabulous. Covered in accessories, including her bedroom curtain, Mary struts down the block, attracting the attention of townsfolk and resident pooches. Arriving at Mother Goose Elementary, Mary is shocked to see her teacher and classmates dressed in bland clothing from eras long past. Swooping in to save the day, she offers fashion suggestions to all of the students and teachers. Even Clark, the classroom pet snake, gets accessorized with a monocle and top hat. The newly fashion-forward educators and kids incorporate style into school traditions such as storytime, art class, and music class. However, when recess arrives, the students are in a panic. Looking to Mary, they exclaim, ‘We’re clearly dressed all wrong for this!’ Mary thinks fast, tosses her silk-lined cape, and jumps right into play, with her classmates following quickly behind. Brantley-Newton’s bright and busy illustrations full of racially diverse children and adults appeal to the eye without distracting from the text, while Sauer’s quick and witty rhyme will keep children engaged and on their toes. VERDICT This fun and lively read-aloud with an African American protagonist is suitable for any children’s collection.” —School Library Journal