Overview
In this empowering picture book by a groundbreaking Sesame Street Puppeteer, a shy girl finds her voice with the help of her favorite puppet. In this empowering picture book by a groundbreaking Sesame Street Puppeteer, a shy girl finds her voice with the help of her favorite puppet. At home, May loves to play pretend with her puppets, leading them fearlessly on all sorts of adventures. But at school, May is shy. When a class project offers the perfect chance for May to speak up, she has a unique idea for how to use her voice. With a little practice, a lot of imagination, and the help of a special friend, May is ready to let out her inner lioness! Based on the real-life story of Emmy-winning author Megan Piphus, the first full-time Black woman puppeteer on Sesame Street, and lovingly illustrated by award-winning artist Nina Mata, this tale of authentic self-expression will inspire young readers to embrace their own unique voices. Back matter features illustrated step-by-step instructions to make a puppet!
Full Product Details
Author: Megan Piphus ,
Niña Mata
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
Imprint: Dial Books for Young Readers,US
Dimensions:
Width: 22.40cm
, Height: 0.90cm
, Length: 28.60cm
Weight: 0.425kg
ISBN: 9780593857595
ISBN 10: 0593857593
Pages: 40
Publication Date: 05 May 2026
Recommended Age: From 3 to 7 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
""Warm and encouraging...Drawn from the author’s childhood, this uplifting story pairs beautifully with the included puppet making activity."" —School Library Journal
""Warm and encouraging...Drawn from the author’s childhood, this uplifting story pairs beautifully with the included puppet making activity."" —School Library Journal “An encouraging story of a child finding ventriloquism and using it as a tool to express herself [with] illustrations that are nothing short of adorable…. Fit for a storytime with preschool-aged kiddos who are learning how to express themselves and use their voices.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “A peppy creativity-oriented story…[with] jewel-toned mixed media images that hum with excitement. It’s a reassuring peek at one student navigating timidity by embracing star energy.”—Publishers Weekly
Author Information
Megan Piphus taught herself puppetry and ventriloquism at age ten by watching VHS tapes. Since 2020, Megan has played the role of Gabrielle, a 6-year old black girl Muppet, on Sesame Street. After training for a year to learn Muppet style puppetry with the cast of Sesame Street, Megan became the first full-time Black woman puppeteer to perform on Sesame Street in September of 2021. Megan is a mom of two young boys-Leo and Ty. Nina Mata is the New York Times Bestselling Illustrator of I Promise by LeBron James and She's Got This by Laurie Hernandez. Nina's family emigrated from the Philippines when she was 6 years old, and settled in Queens, New York. Because her parents worked and went to night school, Nina spent a lot (like a whole lot) of time drawing. She studied Illustration at The Fashion Institute of Technology of NY. Nina currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, their daughter, and Tabi, the cat.
