Try an ollie; take to the air! Jump and land; show off your flair! Award-winning author – and one time skateboard mom – Carole Boston Weatherford helps budding thrill seekers learn the ropes of skateboarding in this exciting and rhythmic ode to the culture surrounding this extreme sport. Illustrator Néstor Omar García López provides graphic art in each spread that depicts the exhilaration, creativity, and freedom of the world of skateboarding. His artistic vision complements Weatherford’s adrenaline-fueled commentary of the sport, from the execution of daring tricks to the serene contemplation while cruising down the street. This duo successfully transports the reader to the essence of skateboarding culture and experience. Grind: An Ode to Skateboarding provides an A-to-Z learning experience for young readers, beginning with the selection of the right board, decking it out with personal designs and decals, and even selecting the proper safety gear to avoid injury. Readers will even learn how to fall the proper way, because of course, “Trust that for every trick you nail, you’ll first fall, so learn to bail”. Skateboarding terminology is all over the pages of this book as well. Kick turns, ollies, heelflips, grinds, boardslides, and many other terms are used to teach the reader all about skateboarding. All these terms are gathered in a glossary at the end of the book. After reading this book, budding skateboarders will most definitely find their groove on the street or in the bowl. Who knows, with all the spinning, grinding, and airborne tricks, their dreams could eventually be realized with a trip to the Olympics! “‘Choose your board to suit your style, A deck to cruise mile after mile.’ So begins a skateboarding celebration in verse by multiple award-winning author Weatherford ( How Do You Spell Unfair? ) With two lines per color saturated spread, beginners are urged to remember safety gear and to ‘learn to bail’ before jumping in to try ollies, nollies, kick turns, tic tacs, kickflips, heelflips, or a new trick of their own invention. The illustrations have a dynamic, graphic flair, showing a variety of black-outlined skateboarders doing their tricks against backgrounds of starbursts, circles, and bands of flat teal, purple, fuchsia, yellow, and orange. The illustrator, a muralist, uses dramatic perspectives to lend additional vigor and excitement to the pictures. While the text appears to speak to new skaters, it also assumes knowledge of the sport’s terminology, which is not usually illuminated in the pictures or a glossary. The skaters portrayed look to be teenagers at least, some with facial hair, rather than closer in age to the likely audience. Nor are any girls depicted, even though girls have been shredding since skateboards were invented, and women now compete in the sport at the Olympics. VERDICT The jazzy look of this book will attract readers, who will appreciate its upbeat message most if they are familiar with the sport.” – School Library Journal A one-time “skateboard mom,” Carole Boston Weatherford was practically born with ink in her blood. The daughter of a printer, she began writing at age six and saw her poems in print not long after that. Her 80-plus books include such acclaimed titles as Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre , How Do You Spell Unfair: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee , and Kin: Rooted in Hope . Her books have garnered two NAACP Image Awards and eighteen American Library Association Youth Media Awards, including a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award, and four Caldecott Honors. Her career achievements have been recognized with the North Carolina Award for Literature, the Nonfiction Award from the Children’s Book Guild, and induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame. The 2024 Young People’s Poet Laureate and retired English professor lives in Maryland. Néstor Omar García López , widely known as Angurria , is a talented Dominican artist with a rich and diverse career spanning 25 years in the realms of illustration, art direction, and graphic muralism. Throughout his journey, he has collaborated with numerous local and international brands, showcasing his exceptional talent in their campaigns. Angurria's influence extends beyond his artwork as he has also served as an educator, teaching courses at esteemed institutions such as the School of Arts of Chavón, APEC University, Brothers, Centro León, and Creative Box. Through his teaching, he instills not only artistic sensitivity but also the discipline necessary for his students to pursue their dreams. Internationally, Angurria has made his mark at mural festivals around the world. Angurria's journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft, his commitment to sharing his knowledge, and his passion for celebrating Dominican and Latino culture through his work.