Mighty Mara

A girl’s belief in herself takes on the strictures of monotonous Same-Town in this buoyant picture book by Ho and Byrd. Opening scenes introduce Mara, cued as East Asian, as someone who “doesn’t have the easiest time fitting in” but who “dreams of being unafraid to be herself.” When an opportunity to perform at the school talent show arises, Mara decides to sign up, despite cautionary comments from a teacher, who asks, “Do you think it’s a good idea to dance in front of the whole school?” Revealed just before her performance to be using a wheelchair, Mara must navigate accessibility obstacles to successfully take the stage, after which “Same-Town would never quite be the same”—a concept that the text leaves unexplored. Rodriguez employs a muted palette to represent the town and its dot-eyed residents, and vibrant hues to depict Mara and her family. Discussion questions conclude. Ages 5–8. (May)