She'll Be the Sky: Poems by Women and Girls was awarded to our school through Early Reviewers. I enjoyed reading the poems. The illustrations were beautiful. Although this is a lovely book, we decided it was not appropriate for our Classical Christian school due to some of the content. I believe that the title of the book is misleading.

In the introduction (Pg.6) there is a paragraph explaining that people that identify as non binary are not actually men or women. As this is clearly contrary to the Bible (Genesis 1:27), I cannot in good conscience review this book. I have a filter to not receive books of this nature, but this one made it through somehow.

This anthology is a collection of poems *by* women and girls - one as young as age five - as well as a non-binary poet and anonymous authors.  It's important to note that the poems are not all *for* or all *about* women, which means the book is for everyone.

The 141-page book has 117 poems, as well as a lengthy introduction and afterword (four pages each) by anthologist Ella Risbridger.  Each double-page spread has one to three poems and a single illustration by Anna Shepeta.  There are three helpful indices at the back of the book - poems by title, author, and first line.  The binding is sturdy, and there's even a ribbon marker.
There were poems by authors familiar to me (most who wrote primarily for children), like Maya Angelou, Lucille Clifton, Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, Emily Dickinson, Eleanor Farjeon, Nikki Giovanni, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Grimes, Lois Lenski, Amy Lowell, Eve Merriam, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Marilyn Nelson, Christina Rossetti, and Janet S. Wong.

However, there was only one poem I recognized:  an extract from Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" (p. 31).  Besides that one, others I liked were about historical figures:  "From Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, to Gaius Seutonius Paullinus, on the Occasion of His Invasion," by Kirsten Irving (p. 46); "Rosa Parks," by Jan Dean (p. 50); "Harriet Tubman," by Eloise Greenfield (p. 52); "Like A Sun," about Queen Victoria, by Elli Woollard (p. 84); and "Malala," by Michaela Morgan (p. 127).

The book was originally published in Great Britain in 2022 under the title, And Everything Will Be Glad to See You.  I think this book will be most appreciated by older children and students. ( )

Summary: Ella's curation masterfully weaves the words of poets like Nikita Gill, Wendy Cope, Lucille Clifton, and others, offering a wide-ranging yet accessible collection that speaks to poetry lovers of all ages. The beautiful artwork and illustrations enhance the collection, making this anthology a visual and literary delight.

Pros:
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