Mary Wears What she Wants

Locations
Call Number: Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Negley, Keith
On Shelf At: Pittsfield Branch, Traverwood Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Negley, Keith	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Negley, Keith	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Negley, Keith	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Picture Books / General / Negley, Keith	4-week checkout	Due 03-27-2024

Once upon a time (but not too long ago), girls only wore dresses. And only boys wore pants. Until one day, a young girl named Mary had a bold idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants! Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who was arrested many times for wearing pants, this fresh, charming picture book encourages readers to think for themselves while gently challenging gender and societal norms.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

School Library Journal Review
Booklist Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Everyone can wear what they want! submitted by Chicchi on June 23, 2021, 3:21pm I love this story because it tells us everyone can wear what they want no matter what their gender is.

Historical Artistic License submitted by Meginator on July 11, 2021, 2:47pm This picture book uses a loose adaptation of Mary Edwards Walker’s life to tell a simple story encouraging readers to wear whatever clothing they feel most comfortable in, although the message as presented pertains specifically to girls wearing typically masculine clothing and doesn’t make overt allowances for other nonconforming gender presentations even in its final celebratory illustrations. The pictures are simple and make excellent use of patterns and a layered effect to render the characters’ clothing, and the text is straightforward and effective even if it glosses almost completely over the emotional and social repercussions of nonconforming clothing choices. That said, the book functions well as a purely encouraging story and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for picture books that can teach young readers about gender expression and clothing choices.

Great role model submitted by Xris on January 25, 2022, 1:01am I’m thankful for her, so I can wear pants without being arrested! The afterword was very informative too. :)