I didn't love or hate this book. It had a simple message "love yourself and don't compare yourself to others" but some of the story was confusing (the dots?) I appreciated the ideas but it didn't hold my sons attention and I wasn't overly thrilled with it.

Macie is a girl, who wants to be the very, very best. Things get tough when a new girl starts at her school. She talks to her mirror and to her dad and the story shows that as long as you love yourself, things are just fine!

The illustrations were quite lovely and the story covers the kind of things I want my daughters to know now at a young age. Very well done

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a short but sweet book for children about personal insecurities.
Macie is a popular girl at school and then suddenly the lime light is taken away from her by a new girl and Macie feels sad and insecure. I liked how Macie became happy with herself in the end after she realises there is nothing at all wrong with her or who she is.

So many of us look in the mirror and don’t like what we see. We could learn a lot from Macie and her mirror.

Macie enjoys being the center of attention until Penelope joins the class. Unfortunately, Macie has friends based on looking perfect. Macie’s mirror shows her what she would look like if she looked “not good” like she thinks she does. The mirror and Macie’s dad show her that she is perfect just the way she is.

This book is a great example of how people think they must be perfect to be liked and accepted. The lesson that we are great the way we are is so important to instill in children before they reach the uncertainty of puberty.

Nice illustrations accompany the text.


I received an ARC from Clavis Publishing through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submit this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This is a really short story with great illustrations and a message about loving yourself no matter what and that no one is perfect. It should have been a hit, but it lost something in the delivery. Not sure if it was too short, but there was not much of a story there.

Macie wants to be perfect, but when a new girl shows up at school, she gets a lot of attention and Macie is upset that there must be something wrong with her. She looks in a mirror that talks to her and tells her that she will be perfect in the morning. Because Marci does not believe that she is perfect, she sees a spot on her face in the morning. As the day goes on, she gets more and more spots and becomes quite upset. Her father talks to her and tells her he loves her the way she is. She gets rid of the mirror and goes back to school happy. An okay book, but didn't really grab me.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is a new picture book with a positive message about self-worth,

Cute illustrations, sweet message to kids about not basing your self-worth on what others may think or comparing .your perceived strengths and weaknesses to others'.

Macie is a young girl, who wants to be the best. She got all her friends that think she is. That is until a new girl comes to school. She worries she isn't perfect anymore. She confides in her mirror hoping to get help to become the best again. She thinks things are just getting worse and confides in her father. He lets her know that nothing else matters as long as you love you.

The illustration was beautiful and the story is something kids need to learn at a young age. I know I could've used more books like this when I was that age.

Macie's Mirror
by Adam Ciccio
Reading level ages: 5 and up
Publication date : March 3, 2020
Book length : 32 pages
Description :
Good enough was never good enough for Macie.
She wanted to be the best.
Until the day Macie took a look in the mirror and learned a very important lesson . . .
3⭐⭐⭐
🤔MY Review🤔
I wanted to read this book because of the lesson of teaching kids they are good enough. However it seems to be lacking a little bit. The girls dad tells her one time she is good enough and boom problem solved . If only life worked that way. Our 5 year old special needs daughter is always putting herself down because she is not as smart as other kids in her class. She did find the pictures kind of cute and loved how the sentences were very short. However the book kind of went over her head. So I feel like the book should should be for a little older kids. But I love the message it sends out and just want to thank the author for sending out this message. Especially in today's world when everyone seems to send out the messages to girls they are not skinny enough , smart enough , or pretty enough. The only other issue I have with this book is the price. Who can afford the price of $17.95 for a little kids book. Which means it won't get into the hands of alot of kids who really need to hear this. I loved the story, the lesson it taught and the positive attitude it sets. I would say this would be a great book for teachers to have in their classrooms. Many thanks to the Publisher , the Author , and NetGalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.
#MaciesMirror #NetGalley

It is cute story for kids with good message.
It introduces concepts of inferiority complex and jealousy in form of simple story.
Illustrations are excellent.
Story is simple and easily readable by small kids.
A wonderful moral tale with inspiration to develop self respect.

This was a lovely picture book which emphasized the acceptance of one’s appearance. I thought that this book lacked substance; there were sweet moments between Macie and her father. There were words of encourage from Macie’s father for Macie to accept herself for who is and, and to love herself first and foremost.

This book is great for any kid because it’s so easy to think you aren’t good enough. The illustrations were very good. It will definitely be a reminder to kids, and adults to love yourself!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Macie’s Mirror by Adam Ciccio. It is a good lesson about self esteem for young people. Very satisfactory.

#MaciesMirror #AdamCiccio #NetGalley

A fairly simple book about learning to love yourself and not compare yourself to others. Would be good to help discuss the issue with kids.

Macie thought she was perfect, until someone new showed up. It took her father's wise words, 'the most important thing is that you love you" for her t realize her true joy. While I really enjoyed the illustrations I felt the story lacked a little bit of development.
Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy.

*thank you to Netgalley, Adam Ciccio and Clavis Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


5 stars!

Ohh yes!!! I loved this book! The message it sends that the most important thing is that you love you is the most important message a child can be given. (Along with that they are loved and safe and cared for of course). What a brilliant little book. I'd buy numerous copies of this to give out to little kids. I really hope this book finds itself in so many little people's hands. But it's also a good one for all ages as that message is not only ment for young kids. It's for everybody. Toddlers, school age children, teens, adults and even the older grayer generations. Plus the illustrations are very good. Definitely recommend.

Macie’s Mirror is the story of a young girl, Macie, who, according to the story, “wanted to be the best”. And, it seems she was. But then Macie doubts herself- I think a new girl comes to the school? This part was confusing because as I was reading, it seemed like maybe a page was missing.

I read many picture books and children’s books- I’m a preschool teacher. What I look for in a kids book are the following elements; developmental appropriateness, social-emotional lessons, and engaging content. I don’t know that this was developmentally appropriate- I think this book tackled a topic that is too big for kindergarten/ picture book aged kids. For me, the story also didn’t flow that well. I just felt confused, this missed the mark for me.

This was a pretty good story but I felt that it lacked a little more depth. This story could have been so much more and the new girl served no purpose. I understand the message the author is trying to give but it just falls flat. More development needed.

I'm not sure if my expectations were too high or if I missed a part of the story but either way I was disappointed. Was Macie a perfectionist, wanting to be the best, or did she just want to be the prettiest? I love the message the story tries to give but why not mention something other than her appearance? And the dots? What were those for? Why is Penelope brought into the story? She served no purpose. Why did Macie start seeing herself differently after talking with her dad? As if he hadn't already told her those things a hundred times before like most parents do? And I don't think throwing away the mirror is helpful.

A little bit “A Bad Case of the Stripes” mixed with “Ruby the Copycat”. Ruby the Copycat is one of my faves, so it made for a tough comparison here, but this one is more situated in the individual melancholy moment when comparison is our thief of joy..

Macie is confident...until a new girl comes into the class. Suddenly she feels down, less than... and the more she thinks about it the more she sees her imperfections.

Then, she gets a little pep talk and she is on her way.

If that felt too abrupt to you, then you’ll likely feel like I did about this as a whole. I thought this was useful, well packaged, and the art worked well. However, it’s a little too disjointed for it to be finished just yet (especially between that problem and resolution). It all happens a little too fast, even for a picture book.

3.5 stars for me. The message is age appropriate and it would be a useful resource, I just want it to have a little bit more and to work on that middle section and transition.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley or an ARC in exchange for an honest review.