Born to Sparkle: A Story About Achieving Your Dreams by Megan Bomgaars, illustrated by Pete Olczyk

Born to Sparkle: A Story About Achieving Your Dreams by Megan Bomgaars, illustrated by Pete Olczyk. Flowerpot Press, 2021. 9781486721108

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review)  5

Format:  Hardcover

Genre: Picture book

What did you like about the book:   It sparkles with inspiration to follow your dreams: ‘Dream Big!’, ‘Work Hard!’, ‘Make Big Dreams Come True!’  If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, because you were born to sparkle.   This story is inspired by an amazing woman, Megan Bomgaars, whose inspirational 2013 Youtube video “Don’t Limit Me”, aimed to demonstrate how individuals with disabilities thrive in inclusive learning environments.    Every page is full of sparkle and an uplifting message to embrace and follow your dreams.  “You can sparkle.”  “Anything is possible.”  “Don’t limit yourself.”  “There are no limits.”  Now is the time to show the world the light that is inside of you and it is time for you to SPARKLE! The back pages include interesting information about the author’s background and what she is doing today.

Anything you didn’t like about it?  No

To whom would you recommend this book?   A great read aloud for elementary children as an introduction to discussing their “Dreams”.  Every special needs classroom should share the story and information about Megan.

Who should buy this book?  Elementary schools and public libraries

Where would you shelve it ?  Picture books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Julie Durmis, J.C. Solmonese Elementary School, Norton, MA

Date of review:  July 25, 2021