Title: Ali and the Sea Stars
Author: Ali Stroker, Gillian Reid (illustrator)
Book Type: Picture Book
Series: N/A
Series Number: N’A
Genre: Realistic, Autobiographical
Age: Childrens
Disability: Wheelchair User
LGBTQ+: N/A
Published: 2022
Setting: USA
[ID: A book cover. Art of various children dressed up in different costumes can be seen on a red path in the centre of the image. Above them, in large font the title “Ali and the Sea Stars”. “Ali” and “Sea” is in blue, the rest of the title is in red, and the “I” in “Ali” is dotted with a star. At the bottom of the cover, writing reads: “Tony Award winner Ali Stroker” in blue, and “pictures by Gillian Reid” in red. A girl in the foreground, with long blonde hair, is wearing a Peter Pan costume and using a pink wheelchair. She is smiling. /end]
Content Warning:
Summary:
Tony Award-winning actress Ali Stroker captures the magic and community of theater in her debut picture book, about a spirited girl in a wheelchair who stages a show for her hometown. Based on the pivotal summer Ali performed in her first musical by the Jersey Shore!
Ali loves to dance, sing, and act. But she had never thought of putting on her own show until her neighbor asks, “Why wait?” Immediately energized, Ali gets to work.
There’s so much to do before showtime–choosing the right musical, auditions, rehearsal, costume and set design–but Ali can do anything with her family and friends. When a storm threatens to undo all their hard work, Ali must use her imagination and adapt so the show can go on!
Includes an inspiring letter from Ali to readers on how she developed confidence while on-stage and how theater encourages teamwork and creativity.
Notes:
Stroker is a paraplegic actress and won a Tony Award for her perfomance in 2019’s Oklahoma, becoming the first wheelchair user to do so.
There is an audiobook version, narrated by Stroker herself.
Archivist Comments:
I’ve now seen a lot of books by Stroker, or books that she’s been involved in, since being suggested this one, but this was the first.
It’s tagged “autobiography” because it’s based on her life, but the story only really loosely follows. ‘
Apparently there’s a note section at the back where the author talks about her own experiences.
I keep seeing references to the beach and the seaside, so I’m assuming it’s set on or near a beach.
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