Based on the author’s own childhood experience, this clever and heartfelt picture book follows a young girl who wants to bring discussion of her disability into the open, exploring themes of acknowledging and celebrating differences.

Mazie wears an eyepatch and a head scarf, and on her first day at a new school she’s prepared for her classmates to wonder why. And they do, but no one talks to her about it. Instead, wild rumors fly around the classroom that she’s a pirate or a dragon burned off her hair! Mazie doesn’t mind explaining her disability, but can she find the courage to tell the other kids to just ask her?

"… the bright, rounded illustrations sympathetically convey Mazie’s emotions, clearly depicting her sadness at her classmates’ rumors and her happiness when they befriend her after learning her story. A reminder that kids with disabilities are the authorities of their own stories." - 03/01/2025

". . . readers are privy to Mazie’s inner thoughts as she navigates social tensions and fears, drawing on the bravery and hopefulness she gained from her recent battle with cancer. . . .  offers significant social-emotional learning opportunities . . ." - 12/13/24