This little ruler of the playground has got game. Basketball, stickball, jump–rope, soccer–there's nothing she won't try. And watch out, boys, because she's representing all the ladies and has girl power to the max. Queen Latifah, the Grammy Award–winning First Lady of Hip–Hop, teams up with the Caldecott Honor artist Frank Morrison in a celebration of spirit and pride. Ages 3 – 8 Kindergarten-Grade 3–The eponymous, self-assured ruler of the playground can do it all: play basketball, tennis, and soccer; run sprints; score at handball and stickball; jump rope; and build the best sandcastles. She does not hesitate to say so, and she is shown as just a little larger than life. But on the last page, she meets her parents, who are waiting on their stoop for their little girl to come home before it gets dark. Written in rhyme and delivered with lots of sass, this empowering story is sure to appeal to those who can celebrate their own special gifts. The rhyming can be bumpy at times and a little forced, but the salute to girl pride is strong throughout. Morrison's paintings are an ideal match for the text. His elastic-bodied figures are graceful and brazen, reminiscent of his illustrations for Brenda C. Roberts's Jazzy Miz Mozetta (Farrar, 2004). The pages spin with movement and action. Despite a few flaws, this book is a worthwhile purchase. There can never be too many books to help children recognize and be proud of their strengths. –Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This little ruler of the playground has got game. Basketball, stickball, jump–rope, soccer–there's nothing she won't try. And watch out, boys, because she's representing all the ladies and has girl power to the max. Queen Latifah, the Grammy Award–winning First Lady of Hip–Hop, teams up with the Caldecott Honor artist Frank Morrison in a celebration of spirit and pride. Ages 3 – 8 Queen Latifah, the First Lady of Hip-Hop, is proof that young women can do anything. She is an award-winning musician, actress, and entertainer, and her song "Ladies First" was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Queen Latifah is involved in numerous charities that help to empower children, and wrote this book to show young readers that, just like the Queen, they can stand tall and be the best—all they have to do is believe in themselves. Frank Morrison  is the award-winning illustrator of many books for young readers, including Jazzy Miz Mozetta by Brenda C. Roberts, winner of the Coretta Scott King—John Steptoe Award for New Talent; Katheryn Russell-Brown's Little Melba and Her Big Trombone , a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book; and Gene Barretta's Muhammad Ali. Before becoming a children's book illustrator and fine artist, Morrison toured the globe as a break-dancer. He lives in Georgia with his family. You can visit him online at morrisongraphics.com.