Sarabeth’s Garage

PreS-Gr 3–Meet Sarabeth. Sarabeth likes to fix cars with her dad; nothing makes her happier. But not everyone thinks girls should be fixing cars. Her grandmother keeps telling her family a version of how, in her day, “little girls didn’t get dirty or fix cars or wear coveralls.” Sarabeth (not her parents) gently reminds her grandmother that things are different now, particularly when Grandmother gets ready to go home and her car won’t start properly. This wonderful book is an excellent lesson on gender stereotypes that could lead to lots of conversations about “girl things” versus “boy things” and remind all readers that they can choose what makes them happy, not what conforms to specific ways of thinking. Her loving parents support Sarabeth unconditionally. The detailed images are a perfect blend of realism and fantasy and quietly nod to body positivity; Sarabeth is no waif as she sturdily takes on every task. Readers will love looking for Sarabeth’s dog who appears in most of the pictures.