Molly wants to participate in the Winter Ice Show but she worries that lack of practice and little know-how of ice skating will stand in her way. Her father takes her to the frozen pond in the park the following day to practice, but every time she tries to leap and spin around hoping to land on one foot like her experienced friend Sarah, she fails terribly.
Constant encouragement from her father lightens up her disheartened attitude and even causes her to train harder by having a skating routine at home with her friends. Along the way, she faces various challenges but does not give up. She finally arrives at the arena with her Papa, scared at first but delivers a phenomenal show much to the excitement of the audience in the hall.
“Molly Morningstar: A Doll for Me” is not only a relevant and important diverse picture book but also a relatable and entertaining story. It allows children of color to see themselves in the main character, who addresses her situation head-on, takes charge, and comes to a resolution on her own. The author brings her real-life experience as a mother, a person of color, and an educator to this debut picture book.