PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Mary Had a Little Plan by Tammi Sauer

MARY HAD A LITTLE PLAN

by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Union Square Kids, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-60582-260-0

Source: publisher for review (ARC)

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover, summary, & author/illustrator photos courtesy of the publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mary had a little plan

that sprouted on the spot.

It all began the day she passed

a drab, abandoned lot. 

 

Fashion-forward Mary is known for adding flair everywhere she goes. When she spots an abandoned lot in her neighborhood, Mary knows she can use her stylish talent to spruce it up. Soon she’s rallying neighborhood shops and calling on her friends to help. With Mary leading the way, this group carries out her little plan that has a big impact on her community!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Tammi Sauer is the author of more than thirty picture books including Mary Had a Little Glam, Your Alien, and Lovebird Lou. She is a former teacher and library media specialist who now celebrates reading and writing with thousands of kids each year through her author visits. Tammi and her family live in Edmond, Oklahoma, where they make and carry out all kinds of plans. To learn more about Tammi, visit tammisauer.com and follow her on Twitter at @SauerTammi.

Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion illustration at FIT and children’s book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is the author and illustrator of Grandma’s Purse, Just Like Me, and Becoming Vanessa, and has illustrated numerous children’s books. Vanessa lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes. Learn more about Vanessa at VanessaBrantleyNewton.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

REVIEW

This cute follow-up to Mary Had a Little Glam sees Mary creating a plan for cleaning up an abandoned lot.  First she creates a plan, and then she works her plan with the help of her father and her friends.  The combination of rhyming text mixed with fun vocabulary words highlighted with a larger font and colored text makes for fun reading.  Brantley-Newton's bright, colorful illustrations full of vim and vigor highlight the enthusiasm and hard work of the children.  Not only is this a fun book about the power of design and vision, but it showcases the joy that can be found in community building. Mary's unique fashion sense stands out as she uses her particular talents to brighten up the whole neighborhood. The sparkles on the cover add just the right touch.