#GIRLPOWER #WOMENINBUSINESS #JOBEQUITY #INCLUSION

Can such heavy topics be presented in an entertaining and engaging way?

And the answer is…YES.

TA-DA!

MAY SAVES THE DAY

Written by Laura Gehl

Illustrated by Serena Lombardo

Published by Capstone Press

Ages: 4-7

Synopsis from Amazon:

From her trendy suit to her messenger bag, May is the picture of a successful businesswoman. After all, she is founder and sole proprietor of Word Saver, Inc. Carrying her trusty bag of letters, May saves the day again and again, turning angry BEES into playful BEETS and a rampaging BEAR into a silly BEARD. Stu begs to be her sidekick, but May insists that a businesswoman does not need a sidekick. However, May quickly realizes that teamwork may be the word of the day when a tornado threatens the town. Author Laura Gehl brings word play to a new level in this adventurous and humorous picture book, featuring spirited art by Serena Lombardo.

Here’s a bit about the author:

Laura Gehl is the author of nearly two dozen picture and board books including One Big Pair of Underwear (Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice); the Peep and Egg series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation, Amazon Editors’ Pick, Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist); My Pillow Keeps Moving (Junior Library Guild selection, New York Public Library Best Books of 2018 selection); I Got a Chicken for My Birthday (Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2018 selection); and Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer (A Mighty Girl Best Book of 2019). Laura’s 2020 releases include Baby Paleontologist (Harper Collins); Judge Juliette (Sterling); Apple and Magnolia (Walker Books); The Ninja Club Sleepover (Page Street Kids); Cat Has a Plan (Simon & Schuster); and May Saves the Day (Capstone). Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lauragehl.com.

And here is a bit about the illustrator:

Serena Lombardo was born in Naples, Italy, in 1990. She graduated in Fine Arts and later studied Concept Art and Character Design. As a child, she dreamed of being a valiant knight, and found her true Excalibur in a pencil. Drawing  fantastic and adventurous worlds has always been her passion, and making others dream by telling stories through illustrations her mission. She works now as a full-time illustrator for books and magazines in the United States, Great Britain, Belgium and Italy.

Right now, I am visiting with my son and his family in Chicago. My granddaughter, Sophie, is almost seven – I read the story with her and she LOVED it! I asked her why…she told me she loves that the main character is a girl businesswoman. She loves how words and letters are used to save the day. And she loves that Stu gets a job with May in the end.

Yes…I agree…there is so much to love about MAY SAVES THE DAY!

MAY SAVES THE DAY is now available for preorder on Amazon!

And now I’d better get packing…we leave on Thursday for 10 days  in Barcelona and Madrid…and I already have two tentative kidlit meetups planned…what fun!  I hope you will all check out the lovely Perfect Picture Book review that Beth Anderson did for Making Their Voices Heard.

Please don’t forget that the official post for #50PreciousWords goes live on February 29…I’m looking forward to reading all of your wonderful stories!