Insightful Title

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown (2011), at first glance, looks like it might be a story about a unique personality, maybe an artistic child, so I grab it. Sara Palacios’ cover illustration shows a smiling red-head with pig tails hanging upside down. I don’t know which way is up until I read the book title. Or rather, book titles, because the title appears twice, in English and in Spanish. Brown has the entire story in both English and Spanish. All the more reason to bring this book home from the thrift store.

The story is about more than a child who likes to wear green polka dots and purple stripes–together in the same outfit. It’s more than Marisol bringing a peanut butter and jelly burrito to school for lunch.

Look at the title: Marisol McDonald. Her first name has a different heritage than her last name. Her mother is Peruvian; her father is Scottish. This story is about a biracial child.

I’m searching online for references to teach me about the multiracial identity. I don’t find much for children. But there’s lots for adults. This insightful title takes me by surprise. In a good way.