Pinkie Promises

Warren's picture book debut treads familiar territory, adding to the repertoire of stories that are still sadly needed today: those that affirm the truth that girls are capable of accomplishing whatever they dream of, no matter what the obstacles. Deftly illustrated by Chua, the story follows Polly as she finds inspiration from a meeting with Elizabeth Warren at a primary rally and carries out the 'pinkie promise' in her daily activities.

In the very first spread of the story, Polly, a bespectacled child with brown skin and dark hair in pigtails, wears a peeved expression, complete with accent aigu eyebrows and a downward speck of a mouth. This facial expression is because Uncle Ed refuses to let her help fix the sink: "That's NOT what girls do" is his justification. "[T]ired of hearing what girls can't do," Polly doesn't give up. She next decides to build a drawbridge for a school project, but her brother adamantly says, "That's NOT what girls do." The final straw is when her neighbour, Mr. Lee, objects to Polly washing the family car. "That's NOT what girls do," Polly hears yet again.

After a long day of discouragement, Polly is taking the leash off her dog Bailey (a namesake for Warren's own golden retriever) when her mother decides to inspire her child with a visit to a giant rally in town to meet "someone who is running for president." It's curious that she doesn't take Polly's sexist brother Jack along as well, but perhaps Warren wanted to pare down the essentials of the narrative to stay on message.

After the "big and noisy rally" ends, Polly lines up to meet the presidential candidate up close. She is a lady with a sensible dark blonde bob and spectacles not unlike Polly's. In fact, the two, drawn in profile by Chua, almost mirror one another in their expressions of mutual joy. Elizabeth tells Polly she wants to lead the country because "THAT'S WHAT GIRLS DO!" and they make a pinkie promise to each other to remember that truth as they take their respective paths in life.

For Polly, this means going to a brand new school on Monday, taking in "lots of boys and girls" milling about the building. Her mother asks her if she can handle this, and Polly, stalwart and brave, raises her pinkie to her mom and says yes, "because that's what girls do!" Elizabeth's mantra encourages Polly the next day on the soccer pitch with the match tied and Polly given the chance to score the winning goal. Her purple-haired coach asks Polly if she can take the pressure in front of the crowd. "Yes, I can be strong. Because THAT'S WHAT GIRLS DO", and the next half-spread shows Polly triumphantly kicking the ball towards the goal.

Another test of her mettle takes place over the weekend when Polly and Bailey head toward the dog park and encounter a distraught boy whose dog is missing. "Can you help me?" he asks Polly. Polly at first looks doubtful, but then breaks into a smile and holds up her pinkie, saying, "Yes I can help. Because THAT'S WHAT GIRLS DO." She and the boy put up lost dog posters. Warren's final scenario for Polly, quoted in the excerpt, shows Polly's internalization of the positive message in a public forum, thereby spreading the message to her peers. At the story's end, readers leave Polly and Bailey sound asleep, dreaming of all the other ways she can make good on her pinkie promises. There are framed pictures around her of Polly and her uncle standing next to a fixed sink, and a picture of Polly and Mr. Lee washing the car, a thank-you note from the boy who has tracked down his dog, and best of all, a badge for class president.

Warren aims this story for the pre-kindergarten crowd, emphasizing her clear, positive message and eschewing textual panache. Chua's illustrations, therefore, do a lot to elevate the story above pure didacticism, with their bright colour palette and charming, animated figures. They imbue Polly's community with warm familiarity to young readers and feature a diverse cast of fellow students, sweet cameos on almost every spread of Bailey the dog, and a cozy and loving home. One could contend that Warren should be tackling the systemic roots of gender inequities rather than laying the onus on girls to push through them, but perhaps that's a project for another time and perhaps a slightly older audience. It's infuriating that patriarchal structures still haven't been dismantled and could dim, if not dash, the hopes of young girl readers, but Warren's addition to the genre of girl power picture books shines as a reminder that determination and courage go a long way in making dreams a reality.