We've heard the phrase WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS over and over again.  And it's true.  No matter how many times you hear it, or if you're sick of hearing the same things in conferences.  When I was growing up, I NEVER saw myself in the books I read.  Ever.

I was so excited that Erin Entrada Kelly won the Newbery that I did this read-along a little differently: I distributed ten copies of Hello, Universe to my fellow bibliophiles and colleagues who love to read.