This is a typical entry into the Little People Big Dreams series. While the story is fine, I don’t think it gets to how young Amanda is. Is, as in, still is. This makes her seem like an old lady of the past, and not a young bright woman with half a century still in front of her. ( )

“For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it.
If only we're brave enough to be it.”

Since the haters are out there doing what they do, I’d like to highlight this gem I picked up on #independentbookstoreday this year: Little People, BIG DREAMS: Amanda Gorman, by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Queenbe Monyei, from @flcbooks. This wee book tells Amanda Gorman’s childhood story and how she overcame her disabilities and rose to become the shining light she is as this nation’s first National Youth Poet Laureate. Along with this honor, she recited her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at President Biden’s inauguration.

Now, some singular snowflake in Florida has tried to have that poem removed from schools entirely, claiming it contains indirect “hate messages,” which leaves me to wonder if she has actually even read the poem? But I digress.

A prime example here of a children’s book not necessarily being just for children, I learned something from this book; I was unaware of Amanda Gorman’s disabilities and how she used those as a source of strength to achieve all that she has, and I’m even more wildly impressed with her.

I was remiss in not purchasing a copy of Gorman’s poem when it was initially published after her presentation at the inauguration, an oversight I’ll soon be rectifying.

Purchased at @the.gardendistrictbookshop

#littlepeoplebigdreams #amandagorman #thehillweclimb #franceslincolnchildrensbooks #thegardendistrictbookshop #bookstagram #childrensbooks #book #books #frommybookshelf #frommybookshelfblog ( )