Lesléa Newman is the author of eighty books for readers of all ages. She has received numerous awards for her work, including two Stonewall Book Award Honors, two National Jewish Book Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. From 2008-2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA. Visit her online at lesleakids.com.

Maria Mola has illustrated picture books for publishers in both Europe and the United States, and her images are notable for their expressiveness and sense of whimsy. Mola was drawn to the story in Sparkle Boy because she believes it addresses a socially important topic. A native of Barcelona, Spain, Mola now lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband and their two sons. You can visit her online at mariamola.com.

"Another nuanced knockout from Lesléa Newman, Sparkle Boy shines, shimmers, and speaks to the world we live in now." -- Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever

"Sparkle Boy captures the sparkle of siblinghood and the joy of glitter. I love Casey and his family. They are filled with love and heart. The dialogue is so real yet picture-book succinct and the chosen details of the illustrations make the pages feel real without being cluttered. Once again, Lesléa Newman reminds us that we all have the right to shine!" -- Alex Gino, author of Melissa

"Twenty-first century kids face an unprecedented future. Sparkle Boy sparkles with traits they'll need, including creativity, freedom, and integrity... not to mention great outfits." -- Marcus Ewert, author of 10,000 Dresses

"There are so many reasons to love Sparkle Boy, and the titular Sparkle Boy's big sister Jessie is one of them. Jessie shows us that tolerance and understanding can sometimes be a learning process for some, and that we all learn at different paces, through different experiences, and for various reasons--love being one of them." -- Christine Baldacchino, author of Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

"The straightforward text realistically makes Jessie the one who sees the problems that can arise for Casey (and herself), but her protective mechanism seems natural. . . The inviting, solidly drawn artwork features doll-like characters with expressive faces. It's easy to see that being himself moves Casey from sad to happy." -- Booklist

"Compassionate. . . Offer examples of language that children and adults could use in similar real-life situations, and Jessie's response to the library bullies might be the best of all. After being told that boys don't wear skirts and bracelets because 'That's just the way it is, ' she responds, 'Not anymore.'" -- Publishers Weekly

"This slice-of-life story will appeal to families, whether or not they include gender-creative members. . . A cheerful addition for libraries that need more titles like Cheryl Kilodavis's My Princess Boy and Sarah Hoffman's Jacob's New Dress." -- School Library Journal

Best Books of the Year - Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Irma Black Award Honor - Bank Street College of Education
Massachusetts Book Award Finalist - Massachusetts Center for the Book