Status
Coming Soon
Call number
Collection
Genres
Publication
Balzer Bray (2019), 48 pages
Description
Once upon a time (but not too long ago), girls only wore dresses. And only boys wore pants. Until one day, a young girl named Mary had a bold idea: She would wear whatever she wanted. And she wanted to wear pants! Inspired by the true story of Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who was arrested many times for wearing pants, this fresh, charming picture book encourages readers to think for themselves while gently challenging gender and societal norms.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Inspired by the story of Mary Edwards Walker, an unconventional nineteenth-century American woman who insisted on wearing pants, author/illustrator spins the tale of schoolgirl Mary in this, his third picture-book. Uncomfortable in the hot, stuffy dresses she is forced to wear, Mary rebels and puts
I had mixed feelings about Mary Wears What She Wants. On the one hand, I appreciated the message that young girls (and everyone else!) should be free to wear what they wish. The story here is simple and engaging, and the artwork, created using pencils and cut paper, is graphically interesting, if I bit too aggressively pink for my taste. This latter is no doubt intentional, and a visual commentary on the subject matter of gendered dress. It didn't bother me, but I did find that I didn't enjoy the artwork here as much as in Negley's previous picture-books, Tough Guys Have Feelings Too and My Dad Used To Be So Cool. My main criticism however, and this is perhaps a bit unfair, is that once I read Negley's afterword about the real Mary Edwards Walker, who graduated from medical school in 1855, worked as a surgeon in the American Civil War, was captured by the Confederates while behind enemy lines, and was given a Congressional Medal of Honor (the only woman in history to be so honored), this simple schoolyard tale simply didn't impress. I would have infinitely preferred it if Negley had written Walker's actual story, in picture-book form, rather than this imagined tale based on one part of her life. After all, Walker was arrested numerous times, just for wearing pants! I want a book about her... heck, I want a Netflix miniseries! I imagine some might like this one, as an introduction to the subject of gendered dress in history for young children, but for my part, I finished it with the strong wish that it has been something else altogether.
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on some pants. When this causes outrage in her community, she bravely carries on, insisting that she is not wearing men's clothing, she is wearing her clothing...I had mixed feelings about Mary Wears What She Wants. On the one hand, I appreciated the message that young girls (and everyone else!) should be free to wear what they wish. The story here is simple and engaging, and the artwork, created using pencils and cut paper, is graphically interesting, if I bit too aggressively pink for my taste. This latter is no doubt intentional, and a visual commentary on the subject matter of gendered dress. It didn't bother me, but I did find that I didn't enjoy the artwork here as much as in Negley's previous picture-books, Tough Guys Have Feelings Too and My Dad Used To Be So Cool. My main criticism however, and this is perhaps a bit unfair, is that once I read Negley's afterword about the real Mary Edwards Walker, who graduated from medical school in 1855, worked as a surgeon in the American Civil War, was captured by the Confederates while behind enemy lines, and was given a Congressional Medal of Honor (the only woman in history to be so honored), this simple schoolyard tale simply didn't impress. I would have infinitely preferred it if Negley had written Walker's actual story, in picture-book form, rather than this imagined tale based on one part of her life. After all, Walker was arrested numerous times, just for wearing pants! I want a book about her... heck, I want a Netflix miniseries! I imagine some might like this one, as an introduction to the subject of gendered dress in history for young children, but for my part, I finished it with the strong wish that it has been something else altogether.
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LibraryThing member lydia1879
so i love keith negley's illustrations a lot.
this book is about mary edwards walker, an activist and one of the first women to wear pants. when i was doing lgbtq education for adults, my first question always was: coming in did you notice any women wearing pants? what about a man walking in
we can notice, and even be affirming and think, that's so cool that person is wearing a skirt! but, even if we think those things, the fact that we noticed it is still a bias.
nowadays, the idea that women were chastised for wearing pants seems obscene. i can only hope that in the future we move to a life where men, boys other masc-presenting folk are allowed to wear skirts without anyone batting an eyelash. however, it won't be without the tireless work of activists, supporters and allies along the way.
loved this story about this lil groundbreaking kiddo. a great reminder. and the last page has some info on mary edwards walker's life too!
this book is about mary edwards walker, an activist and one of the first women to wear pants. when i was doing lgbtq education for adults, my first question always was: coming in did you notice any women wearing pants? what about a man walking in
Show More
wearing a skirt? we can notice, and even be affirming and think, that's so cool that person is wearing a skirt! but, even if we think those things, the fact that we noticed it is still a bias.
nowadays, the idea that women were chastised for wearing pants seems obscene. i can only hope that in the future we move to a life where men, boys other masc-presenting folk are allowed to wear skirts without anyone batting an eyelash. however, it won't be without the tireless work of activists, supporters and allies along the way.
loved this story about this lil groundbreaking kiddo. a great reminder. and the last page has some info on mary edwards walker's life too!
Show Less
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
48 p.; 10.5 inches
ISBN
0062846795 / 9780062846792