(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani. In a conversational third-person text, "professional strongman" Kearney shares his path from strong kid who excelled at strength-based sports (football, cheerleading, weightlifting) to adult strongman champion. But this story's true focus is about embracing who you are and celebrating self-expression. Before he was "the first and only openly gay strongman in the world," Kearney kept his "bright, bold" style private. When he falls in love with fellow weightlifter Joey, he's emboldened to forego lifters' typical "boring colors" and instead sports colorful clothes and a rainbow Mohawk. Chanani's cheerful illustrations help reinforce Kearney's message, summed up in his author's note: "There is nothing that shows more strength than being who you truly are." More information about the Strongman competition is appended, as is a list of related websites and books.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani. A girl wakes with a mission: "TODAY, I WILL BE FIERCE!" She proceeds to "put on my armor" (get dressed), "fill my treasure chest" (load her backpack), and go to school. This invigorating story's humor derives from the cartoon-style art, which interprets her feisty pronouncements: e.g., "I will charge the many-headed serpent" means facing the kids on the school bus.

Reviewer: Nell Beram