MARY CAN!

Grammy Award–winning singer and songwriter Blige encourages kids to march to the beat of their own drums.

Mary, a Black girl based on the author, loves playing double Dutch, cooking with her grandmother, and singing. What doesn’t our spirited protagonist love? The word no. Nothing frustrates her more than being told she can’t do something. When Mary’s teacher Mrs. Robinson tells the class that they’ll be learning scales and then picking a lead singer for an upcoming showcase, Mary starts belting out, “Do, re, mi.” Mrs. Robinson stops her: “Mary, you CAN’T jump right into scales; you don’t know them yet.” After that, Mary seems to hear You can’t everywhere you go. Her mother tells her that the phrase just isn’t part of their family’s vocabulary, and with a renewed sense of confidence, Mary “learns…to beat ‘can’t’ with ‘can.’ ” And when she returns to school and asks Mrs. Robinson if she can sing scales, Mary proves that yes, indeed, she can. Infused with an affirming tone, this picture book features bright, peppy colors, plenty of energy, and a winsome protagonist. In an author’s note, Blige explains that the book was inspired by her own experiences. Mrs. Robinson is Black; Mary’s classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Will please the author’s adult fans and win her a new generation of admirers.