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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 5 sepTember 2019
Justice Sotomayor encourages kids to ‘Just Ask’ in new book

By JESSICA GRESKO she wouldn’t let her own
Associated Press challenges stop her.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Su- Sotomayor, the Supreme
preme Court Justice Sonia Court’s first Latina justice,
Sotomayor has said that said she believes readers
the seed for what has be- will see themselves or some-
come her latest children’s one they know in her book.
book was planted the day And she noted that her
a woman called her a drug book’s children are cultur-
addict. ally and ethnically diverse
Sotomayor , who was diag- because “life challenges
nosed with diabetes at age are not limited to one kind
7, had gone to the bath- of people.”
room of an upscale New The book is illustrated by
York restaurant to give her- Rafael López, who himself
self an insulin shot. She was has dyslexia and a son with
in her 30s but hiding her dia- high-functioning autism. A
betes. Another diner came child named Rafael in the
in and saw her and later, as book who has asthma is
Sotomayor was leaving the painting rocks, a subtle nod
restaurant, she heard the to the illustrator. Another
woman tell a companion: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor addresses attendees of an event promoting her new subtlety, the book’s char-
“She’s a drug addict.” children’s book “Just Ask!” in Decatur, Ga., Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. acter Vijay, who is deaf, is
Outraged, Sotomayor con- Associated Press signing the word “grow” to
fronted her, explaining that A young Sotomayor begins ways in which kids and was time to eat because a newly planted tree.
the shot was medicine, not the book by talking about adults are different and he had a host of allergies. Sotomayor has come out
drugs: “If you don’t know her diabetes and encour- do things differently,” Soto- Another friend’s child who with a string of books over
something, ask, don’t as- aging children to ask about mayor said in an interview has Tourette’s syndrome the last year. Her mem-
sume,” Sotomayor said. other kids’ differences. Oth- ahead of the book’s publi- and therefore tics she can’t oir, “My Beloved World,”
From that exchange comes er children introduce their cation. control was told she was came out in 2013. In 2018,
the title of Sotomayor’s lat- own challenges, including Sotomayor, who was ap- badly behaved by a shop- she released a version for
est book, “Just Ask! Be Dif- attention-deficit/hyperac- pointed to the Supreme per at a store. middle school readers and
ferent, Be Brave, Be You,” tivity disorder, autism, blind- Court by President Barack “Those experiences struck a picture book . Each of
released Tuesday and in- ness and Down syndrome. Obama in 2009, said she me as a reason for me to go her books is also available
tended for kids age 4 to 8. “Differences provide not has wanted to write the ahead with the book that in Spanish.
The book introduces read- just beauty in life, but book “forever” and that had been in my head,” So- Sotomayor said for now
ers to children who face they’re important to the she was also motivated tomayor said. She said she she’s taking a book-writ-
what Sotomayor calls “life quality of the world we live by hearing the stories of was particularly touched ing break, but she’s mak-
challenges” as they work in. It’s richer because of friends who have children by a child in her life who, ing several book-related
together to create a gar- our differences. We’re not with chronic conditions. after learning about how appearances before the
den rich with different flow- lesser because of it. We’re One child, she said, was Sotomayor had confronted court ends its summer re-
ers and plants, a metaphor stronger because of it. My separated from other stu- diabetes, set up a study cess and begins hearing
for their own differences. book celebrates the many dents at school when it area in her room and said arguments again Oct. 7.q

Oprah Winfrey launching wellness arena tour in early 2020

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. more recently. Along with cessful speaking tours, in-
Associated Press high-profile guests, Winfrey cluding “Oprah’s The Life
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah said she wants to empower You Want Weekend” in
Winfrey is taking her moti- audiences to tap into their 2014. “Oprah’s Lifeclass”
vational spirit on the road potential. The names of her was a show.
early next year with an guests will be released at a During her upcoming tour,
arena tour to promote a later date. Winfrey will talk about her
healthier lifestyle. “What I know for sure is we wellness journey with at-
The former talk-show host can all come together to tendees and help develop
and OWN television net- support a stronger, health- their 2020 action plan. She
work chief announced ier, more abundant life — will also share the latest in
Wednesday that the focused on what makes us wellness research and inter-
“Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your feel energized, connected active workbook exercises.
Life in Focus” tour will be- and empowered,” Winfrey Each tour stop will feature
gin Jan. 4 in Fort Lauder- said in a statement. “As I Winfrey in a one-on-one
dale, Florida. She is work- travel the country, my hope interview with a celebrity
ing in conjunction with WW In this May 15, 2019 file photo, Oprah Winfrey speaks at the for this experience is to mo- guest.
(Weight Watchers Reimag- Statue of Liberty Museum opening celebration at Battery Park tivate others to let 2020 be “This is an extraordinary op-
ined) to offer a full-day of in New York. the year of transformation portunity for (WW) to do
wellness conversations dur- Associated Press and triumph — beginning what we do best: bring
ing the nine-city tour. She Denver on March 7. She New York; and St. Paul, Min- first and foremost with what communities of people to-
made the announcement will also make stops in Los nesota. makes us well. This is the gether with a shared goal
on Facebook on Wednes- Angeles; San Francisco; It’s her first national tour in year to move forward, let’s of health and wellness,”
day. Atlanta; Dallas; Charlotte, five years. She has been make it happen in 2020.” said Mindy Grossman, pres-
The tour will conclude in North Carolina; Brooklyn, to Canada and Australia Winfrey has held other suc- ident and CEO of WW.q