Title: MaryEllen is Stuck!!!
Author: MaryEllen Perlini
Illustrator: Gail Jacalan
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-6698-5392-3
Pages: 44
Genre: Children’s Books
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

In this lovely illustrated children’s book, author MaryEllen Perlini introduces readers to a young girl, who shares her same name, MaryEllen. The character seems to be stuck in a blasé form of a depression because of many reasons, but primarily due to the pandemic having her isolated at home, and not able to go out for coffee or nachos, things she loves to do.

This feeling depletes MaryEllen of her energy to do the things she usually does, however as an escape from this depression, she does what many people would do – she shops. In fact, she shops so much for shoes, pants, sweaters and coats, that when the bills come in the mail, she realizes she can’t pay for all of this – she is broke, broke, broke.

MaryEllen then sees a young man dressed with a construction vest and holding a clipboard working as a parking lot attendant. She notices he has a bounce in his step, a smile on his face, and seems happy working at a job which gets him out of his house and provides an income. MaryEllen is inspired by this young man, and goes out to get a vest and clipboard, and begins to work as a parking lot employee. Her whole attitude is turned around – now she is happy, happy, happy and becomes inspired to share her enthusiasm with other friends and family. The good thing is MaryEllen becomes so busy, busy, busy that she doesn’t have time to shop any longer!

Creatively written for very young children, with the full-page illustrations interleaved with just a sentence or two of storyline, this book pages rather quickly, making it a good bedtime story. The theme of having to do something such as working to become happy makes for a valid lesson to youngsters who may like to simply stay home and chill – eventually that leads to depression. Shopping is a remedy for depressed feelings, providing instant gratification, but it comes at a cost, and one needs to be aware of the financial ramifications of over indulgence.

MaryEllen Perlini teaches all readers a good lesson of maturity, and the feeling of self-worth which comes with doing a job – any job. She writes with a lovely maternal voice, repeating a key word three times (as I demonstrated in this review) and closes her story with a happy-ever-after sendoff. MaryEllen is Stuck!!! is ideal for families with youngsters, teaching a valuable lesson, and when kids feel “stuck” – they could get “unstuck” by working in some productive way.