Our offices will soon be closed for a winter break. And I’m ready! I’m going to practice some serious self-care, filling the days with naps, walks, British mysteries, a shit ton of pickleball, and books. Lots of books. Here are four that I’m particularly loving—and gifting—this holiday season.
- Original Sisters: Portraits of Tenacity and Courage, by Anita Kunz
Anita Kunz, a Canadian artist and illustrator, has painted and shared the stories of incredible women across history. Some are familiar—Josephine Baker, Anne Frank, Greta Thunberg. Others are less recognizable, but all lived incredible, transformative lives that have changed us and changed the world.
- Super Sidekicks: No Adults Allowed and Super Sidekicks: Ocean’s Revenge, by Gavin Aung Than
I’ve been in love with Gavin Aung Than’s work for years. This Australia-based cartoonist originally hooked me with Zen Pencils. And he was my go-to artist when I started working on Atlas of the Heart. I love the way his art breathes life into many of the concepts in the book. Gavin’s Super Sidekicks series—graphic novels about young caped crusaders who undertake some seriously world-saving adventures—are must-reads for the middle-grade readers in your life.
- Stuntboy, in the Meantime, by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Raúl the Third
Speaking of those middle-grade readers: Jason Reynolds—the national ambassador for young people’s literature—is brilliant with this audience. And his latest, Stuntboy, which features a young superhero navigating the impending separation of his parents, is thoughtful, rooted in emotional intelligence and humor, and a great book to read together for any family looking to talk about divorce or anxiety with their kids. I’ve read it and listened to the audiobook—SO wonderful!