SARABETH'S GARAGE

A girl’s enthusiasm for vehicles clashes with her grandma’s traditional views.

“Sarabeth loves cars.” The ones that “[roar] like lions” and are “sleek and fast like cheetahs”—she adores the sound and mechanics of every automotive. Sarabeth relishes Saturdays spent by her father’s side at the garage, wearing personalized coveralls and getting her hands dirty. Her grandma, however, doesn’t approve of garage work for girls or what comes with it: “In my day, little girls wore dresses, not grubby work clothes.” Sarabeth’s deflated body language and facial expressions make clear how the comments affect her confidence, and her parents step in to help Grandma understand, as when her mother praises her: “Sarabeth knows everything about cars.” One night, when Grandma’s engine starts to groan, Sarabeth decides to help, but how will Grandma react? Florence’s effectively matter-of-fact and figurative language emphasizes the child’s devotion to all things cars. Some of Alam’s illustrations show realistic scenes, like a day at the garage, full of tiny details for car lovers, while other spreads depict Sarabeth’s swirly, magical daydreams. Readers who are building their own confidence in the face of generational expectations will celebrate Sarabeth’s persistence and positivity. Grandma and Sarabeth’s father are brown-skinned; Sarabeth’s mother is pale-skinned; Sarabeth is tan-skinned.

An uplifting story about grappling with assumptions and helping others embrace your passion.