Behind-the-Scenes of GIRLS ON WHEELS

OurShelves is your trusted resource for expert-curated diverse kids' books like GIRLS ON WHEELS, along with additional resources to deepen engagement with the books and topics they raise.

In this blog post you'll find:

• A video from Srividhya Venkat, author of GIRLS ON WHEELS, about why she wrote the book and reading an excerpt;
  
• A behind-the-scenes time-lapsed video from illustrator Kate Wadsworth around the making of the book's fabulous cover art;
• Discussion questions; and 
• Advocacy actions to support diverse books amid unprecedented book bans targeting diverse books. 

Enjoy this special video author Srividhya Venkat made for the OurShelves community reading an excerpt and discussing why she wrote this book 

Enjoy this special behind-the-scenes video of the making of the cover art from illustrator Kate Wadsworth (Shared with Kate's permission from her Instagram post)

 While enjoying this book and watching these videos, you might discuss . . .

• Have you ever faced a difficult moment in an activity you love? How did you feel? What happened?
• Have you ever had a friend face a difficult moment? What are ways you could support your friends when they have difficult moments when you're doing an activity together?
• Why did Srividhya Venkat write this book? 
• When some kids are allowed or expected to do something but others aren't allowed, how does that make the kids who aren't allowed feel? How does it make you feel? What are ways we can work to change unfair rules or ideas?
• What do you notice about the making of the cover? What's your favorite part of the cover art?

Engage your children in taking action!

Unprecedented book bans that disproportionally target racially, ethnically and religiously diverse, LGBTQ+, and other under-represented characters, authors, and illustrators are on the rise. (Learn more from Get Ready, Stay Ready, a community action toolkit that OurShelves and other partners helped to create.) 

Here are 5 concrete actions you and your children can take to proactively support diverse books and their creators:

1. Buy and borrow diverse books like GIRLS ON WHEELS;
2. Share this book, Srividhya's video, and Kate Wadsworth's video within your family, classrooms, library, and beyond (on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads);
3. Send a note to your favorite authors and illustrators of diverse books like GIRLS ON WHEELS to share why their special book matters to you;
4. Follow your favorite authors and illustrators of diverse books, like Srividhya Venkat (on Instagram and Facebook) and Kate Wadsworth (on Instagram and Facebook);
5. Leave a short review for GIRLS ON WHEELS and other favorite diverse books on Goodreads and Amazon.