* "A lively intergenerational picture book that will send readers out to the sidewalk for a hoopin' good time... A fine incentive to motivate couch potatoes young and old to move." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "This story of a tightly knit community attests to the power of tradition and the treasures to be discovered among the generations that came before." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review

"These feisty characters, find loving ways to honor and forgive one another--while having a blast--will give pleasure across generations. Warning: this itch is contagious!" -- School Library Journal

"First-time picture book author Godin's empathic prose and Brantley-Newton's emotionally telegraphic art capture the lively and nurturing Harlem neighborhood and the thrill of competition, whether age nine or 90." -- Publishers Weekly

"This enjoyable intergenerational story has a sassy surprise at the end that is neither saccharine nor contrived and entirely in the good-natured spirit of the girls' rivalry. The text snaps with a cadence that seems effortless and lends itself well to reading aloud. Brantley-Newton's colorful palette reflects the lively inner-city neighborhood in which Kameeka lives, where kids play on the sidewalk and neighbors look out for one another. With its emphasis on camaraderie and celebrating, this is a perfect title for sharing." -- Booklist

"[R]efreshingly original... The appealing cartoon-style illustrations highlight a strong sense of community in Kameeka's Harlem neighborhood, showing a wide range of distinctive characters and places. They are likely to draw children right into that world, and there's a lot to notice there, from the pictures on Kameeka's living room wall to signs in shop windows to the hula-hooping figure on the traffic 'walk' light." -- The Horn Book

Best of the Best Books, Chicago Public Library
Charlotte Zolotow Award - Highly Commended Title, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Delaware Diamonds Reading List, Diamond State Reading Association
Outstanding Achievement in Children's Literature, Wisconsin Library Association

Thelma Lynne Godin grew up in upper Michigan climbing trees, ice skating in her backyard, and frequently visiting her small town library. She was inspired to write The Hula-Hoopin' Queen from her own experience of still going out to hoop with the kids in her neighborhood. Godin and her husband live in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They have two grown children. The Hula-Hoopin' Queen is her picture book debut.

Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology and children's book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has illustrated several picture books, two of which she also wrote. Brantley-Newton also loves to craft, cook, collect vintage children's books, tell stories, make dolls, and shop. She lives in East Orange, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, and two crazy cats, Kirby and Stripes.