We have seen Christine and Kellie Emery at so many of our out-and-abouts around town! You probably have, too, and would recognize them as the mother-daughter duo that bring the fabulous face paint and amazing balloon animals to local festivals. They're awesome, and when I heard they'd written a book I knew it would be awesome, too.

The Straight and Narrows is the store of Wide and Curly, who was born into a town of uptight, upright stick figures. Nobody understands her, and everybody wants her to change. Her distraught parents try everything to make her more like everybody else, but after almost losing their daughter, come to their senses and realize she's perfect the way she is.

It's a simple but effective story. Because the story features the word "straight" in the title it would be easy to say that it is a metaphor for LGBT acceptance specifically, and it definitely works for that, but The Straight and Narrows is broader than that, can be used to foster an attitude of tolerance and to encourage kids to celebrate ALL KINDS of differences. It also points out how hurtful that forcing somebody to change who they are can be and the responsibility for creating a world that is comfortable for all people's differences and abilities.

The message is spot on and worth buying the book for alone but the illustrations are also extremely well done. Kellie Emery manages to convey so much feeling and attitude with what are, basically, just straight and curvy lines. Anouk thinks Wide and Curly is the most adorable thing and keeps asking where I can buy her a Wide and Curly doll. (Marketing opportunity?)

Overall this is a beautiful book by some beautiful local people. I'm proud to say it came from Hampton Roads! And I look forward to whatever the Emerys do next.


We love The Straight and Narrows so much that we are giving away a copy to one lucky reader. Head over to the Mermaid City Kids Facebook page to enter!