Just be yourself

by Mary Bard

Mary Bard's heart was as big as her daughters' eyes as they begged her to do something please so they could be Brownies like all their friends. The only troop was full. At Girl Scout Headquarters, the officials were sympathetic. We need leaders. Why don't you take a troop? I have no training, hedged Mary. To which they replied, Just Be Yourself! And so the author was off to one of the funniest, most heart warming and frantic years of her life.

Mary Bard is the sister of Betty Mac Donald of the Egg and I fame. Mary claims Betty egged her on to write this book. It is long out of print but is a funny read. I first read it when I was a Brownie. My Mother a leader kept it near her bedside for years. I bought it as a memory of my Mother and found it laugh out loud funny. It is an account of how Mrs.Jay became a Brownie leader and her first year as a leader. It is placed in the mid 50's but little has changed. If you like Jean Kerr you will like this one.

255 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

The eldest daughter of a mining engineer, Mary Bard moved frequently as a child, owing to her father's work. She went to kindergarten in Mexico City, first grade in New York, and second grade in Colorado. She attended college at the University of Washington, in Seattle, married a doctor, and eventually settled on Vashon Island, near Seattle. She had three daughters, and was active as a Brownie troupe leader. Best known for her series of children's novels about "Best Friends" Suzie and Co-Co, Bard also wrote a number of adult titles. Her sister, Betty Macdonald, best known for her Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books, was also an author.

Reviews

[Sonia Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Just Be yourself ages back as a fourteen year old.
Was so envious of the fun they had as Brownies. Back then I thought 16 was old. Sigh.