Publishers Weekly
10/18/2021
Polly, a bespectacled child with dark brown pigtails and warm brown skin, is “tired of hearing what girls can’t do.” Her life is full of males telling her that her gender precludes her from certain activities—fixing the sink’s plumbing with her light-skinned uncle Ed; building a drawbridge for a school project, under the judgmental eyes of her brother Jack; even washing the family’s car, which inexplicably earns admonishment from neighbor Mr. Lee. When her mother takes her to a rally, and the duo meets white presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, soon Polly realizes that girls can do anything. After the two pinkie promise to remember this sentiment, Polly approaches activities with a new attitude. Employing the refrain “that’s what girls do,” Warren traces Polly’s journey toward self-assertion and confidence; Chua’s sunny digital art, depicting a cartoon-style cast of varying abilities, hairstyles, religions, and skin tones, augments this simple encouragement for girls to dream big. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"An inspirational story." —People Magazine
"Inspiring and child friendly." —Kirkus Reviews
"{A] rousing story . . . Especially valuable is the emphasis on day-to-day actions in stepping up and delivering on your promises." —Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
2021-08-11
Lately, everyone seems intent on telling Polly what girls can’t do.
Whether it’s fixing a leak, building a model drawbridge, or washing a car, it seems like the world thinks that girls aren’t able to do anything. Polly is discouraged until she goes to a political rally with her mother. There, the two meet a White woman named Elizabeth (recognizably author Warren in Chua’s friendly illustrations) who’s running for president. She tells Polly that she is running because that’s what girls do: They lead. Polly and Elizabeth make a pinky promise to remember this truth. Polly decides that being a girl can’t prevent her from doing whatever she wants. Even though she’s a bit intimidated at attending a brand-new school, Polly decides to be brave—because that’s what girls do, and she makes a pinkie promise with her mom. At soccer, she’s under pressure to score the winning goal. She makes a pinkie promise with her coach to do her best, because that’s what girls do. And so on. By the end of the book, Polly ignores what she’s been told that girls can’t do and totally focuses on what they can do: absolutely anything they want. In the illustrations, Polly and her family have dark skin and straight, dark hair. The narrative is inspiring and child friendly, although the constant return to making pinkie promises feels like a distraction from the central message. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Inspiring, if all these pinkie promises don’t get in the way. (Picture book. 3-7)
