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Download high-resolution image Look inside

Just Ask!

Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

Author Sonia Sotomayor
Illustrated by Rafael López
Look inside
Best Seller
Hardcover
$17.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Philomel Books
9.44"W x 11.38"H x 0.31"D  
On sale Sep 03, 2019 | 32 Pages | 978-0-525-51412-1
| Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile 710L
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Home, Health, and Daily Living > Diseases, Illness, and Injuries
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > People & Places by Group > Visible & Invisible Disabilities
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Social Themes > Friendship
  • Social Studies & History > Communities, Family, and Me > Social Topics > Visible & Invisible Disabilities
  • About
  • Author
  • Praise
Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez create a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us unique.

A #1 New York Times bestseller!

Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award!

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

Praise for Just Ask:

* "Addressing topics too often ignored, this picture book presents information in a direct and wonderfully child-friendly way." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

"An affirmative, delightfully diverse overview of disabilities." --Kirkus Reviews

"A hopeful and sunny exploration of the many things that make us unique [with] dynamic and vibrant illustrations [that] emphasize each character’s unique abilities. . . . A thoughtful and empathetic story of inclusion." --SLJ
© Elena Seibert

Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York. She earned a BA from Princeton University and a JD from Yale Law School. She served as assistant district attorney in New York County, and then as a litigator at Pavia & Harcourt. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated her to the US District Court, Southern District of New York. In 1997, President William Jefferson Clinton nominated her to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role August 8, 2009, becoming the first Latina to ever hold such a high position. She is the author of My Beloved World, Turning Pages, The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor, Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, and Just Help! How to Build a Better World.  

View titles by Sonia Sotomayor
Rafael López (rafaellopez.com) won Pura Belpré medals for Drum Dream Girl and Book Fiesta, and has also received three Pura Belpré honors, two Américas Book Awards, and the 2017 Tomás Rivera Children's Book Award and Society of Illustrators Original Art Silver Medal. His work has been featured in Communication Arts, American Illustration Annual, Graphic Design USA and Huffington Post. He's a founder of San Diego's Urban Art Trail movement, created seven US Postal Stamps, and created official posters for the '08 and '12 Obama-Biden campaigns. He lives in San Diego, California, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. View titles by Rafael López
Praise for Just Ask:

* "Addressing topics too often ignored, this picture book presents information in a direct and wonderfully child-friendly way." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

"An affirmative, delightfully diverse overview of disabilities." --Kirkus Reviews

"A hopeful and sunny exploration of the many things that make us unique [with] dynamic and vibrant illustrations [that] emphasize each character’s unique abilities. . . . A thoughtful and empathetic story of inclusion." --SLJ

"A beautiful story about understanding differences and celebrating what makes us unique." --Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, Parents Magazine

About

Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez create a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us unique.

A #1 New York Times bestseller!

Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award!

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

Praise for Just Ask:

* "Addressing topics too often ignored, this picture book presents information in a direct and wonderfully child-friendly way." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

"An affirmative, delightfully diverse overview of disabilities." --Kirkus Reviews

"A hopeful and sunny exploration of the many things that make us unique [with] dynamic and vibrant illustrations [that] emphasize each character’s unique abilities. . . . A thoughtful and empathetic story of inclusion." --SLJ

Author

© Elena Seibert

Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York. She earned a BA from Princeton University and a JD from Yale Law School. She served as assistant district attorney in New York County, and then as a litigator at Pavia & Harcourt. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated her to the US District Court, Southern District of New York. In 1997, President William Jefferson Clinton nominated her to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role August 8, 2009, becoming the first Latina to ever hold such a high position. She is the author of My Beloved World, Turning Pages, The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor, Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, and Just Help! How to Build a Better World.  

View titles by Sonia Sotomayor
Rafael López (rafaellopez.com) won Pura Belpré medals for Drum Dream Girl and Book Fiesta, and has also received three Pura Belpré honors, two Américas Book Awards, and the 2017 Tomás Rivera Children's Book Award and Society of Illustrators Original Art Silver Medal. His work has been featured in Communication Arts, American Illustration Annual, Graphic Design USA and Huffington Post. He's a founder of San Diego's Urban Art Trail movement, created seven US Postal Stamps, and created official posters for the '08 and '12 Obama-Biden campaigns. He lives in San Diego, California, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. View titles by Rafael López

Praise

Praise for Just Ask:

* "Addressing topics too often ignored, this picture book presents information in a direct and wonderfully child-friendly way." --Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW*

"An affirmative, delightfully diverse overview of disabilities." --Kirkus Reviews

"A hopeful and sunny exploration of the many things that make us unique [with] dynamic and vibrant illustrations [that] emphasize each character’s unique abilities. . . . A thoughtful and empathetic story of inclusion." --SLJ

"A beautiful story about understanding differences and celebrating what makes us unique." --Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, Parents Magazine

Other Books by this Author

  • The Little Book of Joy
    The Little Book of Joy
    Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 27, 2022
  • ¡Solo Ayuda!
    ¡Solo Ayuda!
    Como construir un mundo mejor
    Sonia Sotomayor, Angela Dominguez
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Feb 01, 2022
  • El año en que aprendimos a volar
    El año en que aprendimos a volar
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Feb 01, 2022
  • Just Help!
    Just Help!
    How to Build a Better World
    Sonia Sotomayor, Angela Dominguez
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 25, 2022
  • The Year We Learned to Fly
    The Year We Learned to Fly
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 04, 2022
  • Himno americano
    Himno americano
    Una canción para nuestra nación
    Gene Scheer, Matt Faulkner, Michelle Lee, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, James McMullan, Edel Rodriguez, London Ladd, Elizabeth Baddeley, Kate Harvey McGee, Rafael López, Jacqueline Alcántara, Christine Almeda, Fahmida Azim, Veronica Miller Jamison
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Nov 30, 2021
  • American Anthem
    American Anthem
    A Song of Our Nation
    Gene Scheer, Matt Faulkner, Michelle Lee, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, James McMullan, Edel Rodriguez, London Ladd, Elizabeth Baddeley, Kate Harvey McGee, Rafael López, Jacqueline Alcántara, Christine Almeda, Fahmida Azim, Veronica Miller Jamison
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jun 29, 2021
  • The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor
    The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor
    Sonia Sotomayor
    $8.99 US
    Paperback
    Sep 17, 2019
  • ¡Solo pregunta!
    ¡Solo pregunta!
    Sé Diferente, Sé Valiente, Sé Tú
    Sonia Sotomayor, Rafael López
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 03, 2019
  • Turning Pages
    Turning Pages
    My Life Story
    Sonia Sotomayor, Lulu Delacre
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 04, 2018
  • Pasando páginas
    Pasando páginas
    La historia de mi vida
    Sonia Sotomayor, Lulu Delacre
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 04, 2018
  • The Day You Begin
    The Day You Begin
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Aug 28, 2018
  • El día en que descubres quién eres
    El día en que descubres quién eres
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Aug 28, 2018
  • The Little Book of Joy
    The Little Book of Joy
    Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 27, 2022
  • ¡Solo Ayuda!
    ¡Solo Ayuda!
    Como construir un mundo mejor
    Sonia Sotomayor, Angela Dominguez
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Feb 01, 2022
  • El año en que aprendimos a volar
    El año en que aprendimos a volar
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Feb 01, 2022
  • Just Help!
    Just Help!
    How to Build a Better World
    Sonia Sotomayor, Angela Dominguez
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 25, 2022
  • The Year We Learned to Fly
    The Year We Learned to Fly
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 04, 2022
  • Himno americano
    Himno americano
    Una canción para nuestra nación
    Gene Scheer, Matt Faulkner, Michelle Lee, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, James McMullan, Edel Rodriguez, London Ladd, Elizabeth Baddeley, Kate Harvey McGee, Rafael López, Jacqueline Alcántara, Christine Almeda, Fahmida Azim, Veronica Miller Jamison
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Nov 30, 2021
  • American Anthem
    American Anthem
    A Song of Our Nation
    Gene Scheer, Matt Faulkner, Michelle Lee, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, James McMullan, Edel Rodriguez, London Ladd, Elizabeth Baddeley, Kate Harvey McGee, Rafael López, Jacqueline Alcántara, Christine Almeda, Fahmida Azim, Veronica Miller Jamison
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jun 29, 2021
  • The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor
    The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor
    Sonia Sotomayor
    $8.99 US
    Paperback
    Sep 17, 2019
  • ¡Solo pregunta!
    ¡Solo pregunta!
    Sé Diferente, Sé Valiente, Sé Tú
    Sonia Sotomayor, Rafael López
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 03, 2019
  • Turning Pages
    Turning Pages
    My Life Story
    Sonia Sotomayor, Lulu Delacre
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 04, 2018
  • Pasando páginas
    Pasando páginas
    La historia de mi vida
    Sonia Sotomayor, Lulu Delacre
    $17.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 04, 2018
  • The Day You Begin
    The Day You Begin
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Aug 28, 2018
  • El día en que descubres quién eres
    El día en que descubres quién eres
    Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Aug 28, 2018
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