An inspiring and poetic story about reading, libraries, and overcoming shyness to find community.I gather the books in my arms, and give them a hug. "Welcome back," I whisper. Nicky is a shy girl who feels most at home in the safe space of her school library, but the library closes for a week and Nicky is forced to face her social anxiety. When she meets a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at her mother's diner—members of a women's motorcycle club—Nicky realizes that being different doesn’t have to mean being alone, and that there’s a place for everyone.
Book lovers of all ages will find inspiration in this beautiful love letter to reading—and how words help us find empathy and connections with the world around us.
★ Ezra Jack Keats Award HonorA Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An Atlanta Parent Best Book of the Year
A RISE: A Feminist Book Project Reading List selection
An Association for Library Service to Children Notable Book
Maine Chickadee Award nominee, 2023-24
On sale: July 19, 2022
Age: 3-7 years
Grade: Preschool - 2
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9780593378823
Reading level: Lexile: AD640L | Fountas/Pinnell: O
PAULINE DAVID-SAX is a playwright, author, and educator living in Brooklyn. She worked in New York City public schools for eighteen years before turning her attention to writing.
Everything in Its Place is Pauline’s debut children’s book and was inspired by her friendship with the Sirens Women's Motorcycle Club in New York City. Pauline’s play
How We Survived was awarded the 2020 Jane Chambers Prize and her play
Cotton’s Tale was selected as a finalist for the 2021 Susan Glaspell Contest. Follow Pauline on Twitter at @Pauline_D_S.
CHARNELLE PINKNEY BARLOW grew up surrounded by art, and was inspired by the world of watercolor. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts. Charnelle's children's book illustrations include
Everything in its Place and
The Real Santa. Charnelle lives in Indianapolis with her husband. When she's not drawing, she is baking, sewing, or reading with a cup of tea by her side. Find her online at callmechartreuse.com and follow her on Instagram at @callmechartreuse.
★ "For all those who are never found without a book at recess."—
Kirkus,
starred review★ "Using emotionally astute prose and collage art that resembles a personal scrapbook with crayon-textured sketches, debut author David-Sax and Pinkney Barlow (
The Real Santa) honor their protagonist’s rich interiority, never minimizing Nicky’s pain or yearning, nor her preference for books and (some) solitude."—
Publishers Weekly,
starred review
A Book Riot Must-Read July Children's Book Release—"A super sweet and lyrical picture book perfect for shy, bookworm kids."
"It can be tough for kids to find their "people"; David-Sax and Barlow offer one possible pathway to forging a satisfying friendship."—
Booklist
