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Mary Had a Little Plan

By Tammi Sauer (Author), Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Illustrator)

Price$17.99

Format Hardcover Picture Book

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OVERVIEW

After glamming it up with her school friends in the bestselling Mary Had a Little Glam, children's book author Tammi Sauer brings back Mary, the resourceful, stylish little girl protagonist for another exciting adventure. This time, a little plan that has a big impact on her community!

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 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 and fashions a future that is bright!

Themes of young girl empowerment, community, ecology, and cooperation provide a framework for the story and are natural talking points in the early elementary classroom. Sauer's gift for rhyming text marries with the playful art of illustrator Brantley-Newton to create an engaging, fun African American young children's book suitable for any children's collection.

Hardcover picture book; 32 pages; 10 in H by 10 in W.

PRAISE

“The rhyming text is organized in well-paced couplets that read effortlessly and offer an occasional nod to other nursery rhymes. The type includes words set in a whimsical font in colors that complement Brantley-Newton’s lively, playful illustrations. Mary and her friends have loads of personality, and readers will be charmed by the ingenuity, dedication, and community spirit they display. A light read, this story is a glowing example of the magic that results when a thoughtful initiative receives support. Fun and inspiring.” — Kirkus Reviews

"[T]his picture book makes a fantastic addition to any nursery-rhyme collection, but it’s also perfect for children in urban communities who are looking for ideas about what to do with abandoned lots." — Booklist

“[A]n inspiring story . . . . Proving that even the smallest ideas can have the biggest impact.” —Daily Mom -

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)

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.