Author Vicki Johnson and illustrator Gillian Reid, the creative team behind Molly’s Tuxedo, bring us another cheery ode to self-expression and kindness, starring a gender creative girl.
Mac loves hats! Whether they’re for sunny days, drizzly ones, storytime in the library, practicing guitar, or wearing to the Pride parade, Mac has a hat for every occasion. And when Mac is feeling “down in the dumps,” like when someone says a t-shirt with a robot on it isn’t for her, or complains that they can’t see her under the hat, then her hat acts as an “all-day head hug” and a hiding place.
Conversely, when someone praises her hats or her style, she feels a “zing” and a “zip” like she can do anything: make new friends, share her dreams, and be herself. Mac then celebrates hats for every type of day (“Dreamy, busy, upside-downy”) and for playing boisterously with friends. The book concludes by expressing that kindness makes everyone’s hearts go “zing,” and “together . . . we can do anything!
Johnson and Reid have created an absolutely delightful book that showcases not only individual style, but also the power of being kind and letting everyone express theirs. Johnson’s words are lively, with occasional rhyme and alliteration, while Reid’s illustrations, heavy on blues, oranges, and yellows, are simply adorable. (Perceptive readers will also notice that Molly, from the creative team’s previous book, is in the same class as Mac, although she is a background character here.)
Mac, who has short hair and big round glasses, and wears a t-shirt and shorts in addition to hats, is actually never gendered in the first-person main text, and could be read as any gender. Even Mac’s full name, Mackenzie, is gender neutral (although it has predominated for girls of late). The publisher’s blurb refers to Mac as “she,” however, and the scene where someone criticizes her desire for a robot t-shirt is an experience that many gender creative girls (and those of us who were them) will recognize. The book therefore seems intended to star a gender creative girl, and gender creative girls should be delighted to have yet another addition to the small number of titles that represent them. At the same time, if some readers view Mac as another gender because that’s how the book resonates with them, so be it. The book’s message about being kind and celebrating one’s individual style is important for children of all genders. It might be an interesting point of discussion, too, for adults to ask children what made them assume Mac was a particular gender.
Mac’s queerness might also be assumed from the image of her sitting on her father’s shoulders at a Pride parade, although we actually don’t know if she’s there because of her own identity, her father’s, or as an ally. It’s all good; readers can interpret things as they wish.
Johnson and Reid have created yet another highly recommended title with particular (but not exclusive) appeal for gender creative girls, conveying an important message with both thoughtfulness and fun. My hat’s off to them.
Backmatter includes instructions for making a paper hat.
Mac’s and her mom read as White; her dad as Black.
