FINALLY, A BOOK FOR LOUD KIDS!: There are lots of books on the market for quiet kids, but not for the louder kids EMPOWERMENT: In a world where female voices are often stifled, Rudy sets an example for other girls to not be silenced DEBUT: Author Sahar Golshan and illustrator Shiva Desooz's debut! Sahar is a success story from Annick's mentorship program for creators from communities historically excluded from children's book publishing. Shiva Delsooz's illustrations jump off the page in cheerful exuberance and are the perfect partner for the story COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION: Lovely depiction of biracial family life (Rudy's mother is Chinese and her father is Persian) that is not the focus of the plot. The book takes place during Norooz, the Iranian festival of spring A "SOCIAL" SEL TITLE: Many SEL books focus on recognizing and regulating emotions, fewer focus on the social aspect RELATABLE THEMES: Themes of self-acceptance remind ALL kids they don't need to be anything other than themselves! Kids will empathize with Rudy and feel empowered when she blossoms into her true self LEVELLING INFO: F-P Guided Code: I - Grade One VI. Lexile Code: Adult Directed 580L FOR FANS OF: Lion Lessons, Where Oliver Fits, and The Bad Mood and the Stick.