Grand Rapids plays host to the 51st-annual Ms. Wheelchair America competition, where twenty-two contestants from across the U.S. are contending for the crown. The competition highlights advocacy and achievement of women with disabilities. WGVU spoke with Ms. Wheelchair Michigan, Sarah Nassar about the competition thus far.

Brand New Bubbe written by Sarah Aronson and illustrated by Ariel Landy is a story about a little girl named Jillian who gets a new grandma when her mother marries for a second time. However, Jillian has a Noni and a Gram and doesn’t want a new Bubbe. After failing to win Jillian over Bubbe decides to make her wonderful Matza Ball soup with Jillian. This leads Jillian, who loved the soup, to stage a Super Soup Celebration with Noni, Gram and Bubbe each making their best soup for the whole blended family. Readers 4-8 years of age will also love the tasty back materials where the recipe for each soup can be found (Charlesbridge, 2022).

Detroit is remembering native son and famed Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier, who has died at the age of 81.

RIDE ON by writer and artist Faith Erin Hicks with colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick is a gorgeous graphic novel about horses, the girls who ride them and friendships. The characters are real, alive and activity- engaged in life. When twelve-year-old Victoria decides to pull away from expensive competitive riding she leaves her best friend and teammate Taylor confused. Going to a new stable where she can quietly help new horses calm down has problems of its own. She tries to isolate herself until she meets Sam, the only fella working with horses at her new stable. This is a thoughtful and energetic story for readers 10-14 years of age (First Second/ Roaring Brooks Press, 2022).

Lansing residents are getting a taste of what life was like in the area 100 years ago.

Today Sue Gamble welcomes Dr. Mark Cox, professor of tuba and low brass studies at The CMU School of Music. Dr. Cox will share stories and a wide variety music for tuba and euphonium, that he and his student have performed. This program was first broadcast on July 2, 2021.

I am I.M. Pei written by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos is the 38th biography in the Ordinary People Change the World series so popular with readers 6-9 years of age. The book is packed with interesting happenings experienced by this extraordinary architect. Readers follow him from his birthplace in China to his education in the United States where he learned to look at things from different points of view. His design of the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and the Louvre Pyramid in Paris is well presented (Dial Books for Young Readers/ an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2022).

Organizers of an ultra-endurance race along the Au Sable River are expecting record-breaking participation this weekend, but low water levels will create some challenges for participants on their 120-mile, non-stop trek to Lake Huron.

Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell is a charming story of two friends as they experience the carnival. At first Cornbread is reluctant to go with Poppy to the carnival. He is afraid of most of the rides including the roller coaster named the Boneshaker! He tells Poppy he will get on the Ferris wheel with her—and off they go. Cornbread loves the ride while Poppy is terrified of heights! Later in the day the two friends have a disagreement of great proportions. The illustration of each of their temper tantrums are wonderfully detailed and filled with fun. This easy reader for children 6-10 years of age is a delightful story of friendship. (Little, Brown and Company, 2022).

Baroque on Beaver is celebrating its 21st year!