Sparkle Boy

Summary of Book

Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, but he also loves things that sparkle, shimmer, and glitter. When his older sister, Jessie, shows off her new shimmery skirt, Casey wants to wear a shimmery skirt too. When Jessie comes home from a party with glittery nails, Casey wants glittery nails too. And when Abuelita visits wearing an armful of sparkly bracelets, Casey gets one to wear, just like Jessie. The adults in Casey's life embrace his interests, but Jessie isn't so sure. Boys aren't supposed to wear sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. Then, when older boys at the library tease Casey for wearing "girl" things, Jessie realizes that Casey has the right to be himself and wear whatever he wants. Why can't both she and Casey love all things shimmery, glittery, and sparkly? Here is a sweet, heartwarming story about acceptance, respect, and the freedom to be yourself in a world where any gender expression should be celebrated. Sparkly things are for everyone to enjoy!

Author Biography

LESLEA NEWMAN is the author of seventy books for readers of all ages. She has received many literary accolades, including poetry fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, and has served as Poet Laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, from 2008 to 2010. In addition to creating her own books, Newman teaches writing for children and young adults at Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program. She wrote this book to celebrate all the "sparkle boys" she knows. Newman lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with her spouse, Mary Vazquez.

Illustrator Biography

Maria is an illustrator and fine artist from Barcelona currently living in Boston with her husband and their three little children. One lucky day, she stumbled on the art in children's books and fascinated by it decided to become a picture book illustrator herself - to be as close as possible to that magical world.

She is the illustrator of Sparkle Boy (by Lesléa Newman), Maya Papaya (by Susan Middleton Elya), Koala Challah (by Laura Gehl), and others. Maria's whimsical art often explores the beautiful inner world of kids, the meaningful little things in ordinary days, and she enjoys sneaking quiet hopeful messages in her illustrations. Maria creates her work digitally and in traditional media, often combining both.

When not creating children's book dummies, she enjoys making crafts with her kids, reading, or cooking. Most of the time doing everything at once :-)

Represented by the Bright Agency