Stacey's Extraordinary Words

by Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas (Illustrator)

Overview

#1 New York Times bestseller and NAACP Image Award winner! The debut picture book from iconic voting rights advocate and bestselling author Stacey Abrams is an inspiring tale of determination, based on her own childhood. 

Stacey is a little girl who loves words more than anything. She loves reading them, sounding them out, and finding comfort in them when things are hard. 

But when her teacher chooses her to compete in the local spelling bee, she isn’t as excited as she thought she’d be. What if she messes up? Or worse, if she can’t bring herself to speak up, like sometimes happens when facing bullies at school? 

Stacey will learn that win or lose . . . her words are powerful, and sometimes perseverance is the most important word of all. 

Plus don't miss the follow-up from the same team, Stacey's Remarkable Books!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063209473
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	12/28/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	23,315
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stacey Abrams is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of While Justice Sleeps, Our Time is Now, Lead from the Outside, and Stacey’s Extraordinary Words. She is also an entrepreneur and a political leader. A tax attorney by training, she served eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Minority Leader. She has launched multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at the state, national, and international levels. She is the founder of Fair Fight, Fair Count, and the Southern Economic Advancement Project. She has received degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School.

Kitt Thomas is a first-generation Lucian American author-illustrator and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design with a BFA in visual studies. Kitt’s mission is to celebrate Black culture with their drawings and to encourage inclusion in all forms of art, as they found it hard to see themself properly represented in the media they enjoyed growing up. They have worked with such companies as Netflix, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network. They are the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Stacey’s Extraordinary Words.

Editorial Reviews

10/18/2021

With warmth and candor, politician and voting rights activist Abrams tells a fictionalized story of her first spelling bee, emphasizing the value of education, of focusing on effort over result, and of standing up to bullying. Narrating in the third person, Abrams describes schoolgirl Stacey’s fascination with words (“Persnickety tickled her tongue”), including terms that comfort her when she is teased or lonely, and those that help her “explain what she was feeling.” (Throughout, Abrams revels in multisyllabic words: “The days of the week were monotonous, torturous, and sluggish.”) Alluring digital spreads by debut artist Thomas give Stacey, who is Black, curly pigtails and sparkly eyes filled with interest and curiosity. When an alert teacher notices Stacey’s prowess and invites her to participate in a local spelling bee, the competition is intimidating, and so is her rival—Jake, a white bully who uses his knowledge to make other kids feel small. A dramatic spelling bee sequence distributes triumph and defeat in unexpected ways, and Thomas’s spreads give the proceedings cinematic suspense. In competition, Abrams reminds readers, victory can take years to arrive—and integrity and courtesy are always more important. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Abrams shares her love of words in this picture book drawn from a childhood memory. Readers will see the beginnings of a lifelong fascination with words, as well as the passion for fighting for others. A great addition for collections looking for stories about current political figures, as well as story time with a biography emphasis.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“This engaging, edifying, delightfully nerdy childhood retrospective from one of today’s inspirational leaders speaks volumes.” — Kirkus Reviews

“With warmth and candor, politician and voting rights activist Abrams tells a fictionalized story of her first spelling bee, emphasizing the value of education, of focusing on effort over result, and of standing up to bullying. In competition, Abrams reminds readers, victory can take years to arrive—and integrity and courtesy are always more important.” — Publishers Weekly

“Charming and powerful.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

Charming and powerful.

Booklist

Charming and powerful.

Booklist

★ 10/22/2021

K-Gr 2—Abrams shares her love of words in this picture book drawn from a childhood memory. Young Stacey loves to read and write, collecting unique words in a notebook dedicated just to that purpose. When her teacher nominates her to represent the class in the school spelling bee, she isn't sure she can do it. Not only will it mean talking in front of a lot of people but it also means standing up to the kid in her class who uses words to hurt others. She knows that she will be nervous, but with lots of preparation and practice, she is ready for the bee and a showdown with the class bully. Readers familiar with Abrams, the public speaker and politician, will see the beginnings of a lifelong fascination with words, as well as the passion for fighting for others. Using clever layouts and eye-catching fonts, this book will draw in readers to the many words that fascinated the author. The tension between spellers will also come to life as words dance around the page; the struggle is visible on each speller's face. At times, the size and color of the text get lost in the dark hues of the digital illustrations, but the message of perseverance and the power of words will not be lost on the young. A word list and extensive author's notes are included at the end. VERDICT A great addition for collections looking for stories about current political figures, as well as story time with a biography emphasis.—Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elem. Sch., Fargo, ND

School Library Journal

2021-12-16
Before Stacey Abrams became today’s leading voting rights activist and the first Black woman in American history to become a gubernatorial candidate, she was a spelling bee hopeful.

Stacey is a kid who understands the power of language. Ushered from infancy into the world of books by her librarian mother, she is a devoted student of the dictionary and a diligent young linguist in her own right, squirreling away words in a dedicated notebook. Quiet and awkward, she finds refuge and clarity in reading and writing. When she is nominated by her second grade teacher, Mrs. Blakeslee, to participate in the school spelling bee, Stacey is thrilled. However there is one problem—she will be competing alongside Jake, the class bully, whom she has always shrunk from; but, “perhaps at this spelling bee she would be braver.” Readers follow Stacey as she painstakingly prepares, steps onto the competition stage—not once, but many times—and ultimately finds her voice with the loving support of her wise momma. The text is well turned, delivering both emotional resonance and compelling, albeit unromanticized, messages about the value of perseverance and the importance of speaking up for what is right. Thomas’ bold, vibrant digital illustrations use spotlights as a motif, subtly foreshadowing young Stacey’s future as a public speaker, and excel at depicting multiple scenes on the same page to create a sense of parallel action. Jake is White, and several illustrations include diverse representation.

This engaging, edifying, delightfully nerdy childhood retrospective from one of today’s inspirational leaders speaks volumes. (Picture book autobiography. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews