International Women's Day (Primary)

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. Luz Jiménez was an Indigenous Nahua girl from Milpa Alta, on the outskirts of Mexico City, who grew up to realize her dreams of becoming a teacher and working to preserve the Nahua language and culture. As a child, she was not allowed to go to school--that is, until the government realized that education could be used as a tool to control Indigenous people ("to turn the native children into modern ones, like the descendants of the Spanish who ruled the country, who thought only their ways were right and proper") at the cost of preserving their traditional ways of life. When the Mexican Revolution came in 1911, Jiménez's father was killed in the fighting and chaos, and the family moved to Mexico City, where Luz was fortunate to find work as a model for some of the leading artists of the day, including Diego Rivera. When the war ended, she returned to Milpa Alta and found her true calling as a teacher. Tonatiuh's (Soldier for Equality, rev. 1/20; Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns, rev. 11/20) hand-drawn, digitally collaged illustrations, with an iconographic nod to the Mixtec codices, are rich in color and texture. Indeed, it's this complicated relationship between old traditions and modern influences that makes his art such a good complement to Amescua's text. Flowers, a Nahua metaphor for poetry, are incorporated throughout. An author's note, a timeline, a glossary, source notes, and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) 4-6 Mary Anning, the nineteenth-century paleontologist who supported her family by selling fossils that she discovered near her seaside home in Great Britain, gets the full biographical treatment in this clearly written chapter book. Sketches from Anning's letters, pertinent archival artwork, a portrait of Anning, and photos of her fossils offer a complementary visual account. The narrative contextualizes the kind of education Anning would have received and the constraints of her poverty and social class, and emphasizes her abilities and knowledge despite her lack of either formal training or recognition from male authorities. An author's note, timeline, glossary, bibliography, and index (unseen) are included in the extensive back matter.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy June Bates. This slowly unfolding picture-book biography begins by setting the scene: the environment of hate during the Holocaust and why it was necessary for many Jews to hide their true identities. The book introduces a toy duck that was used to conceal false papers; then its bearer, teenaged French Resistance member Jacqueline Gauthier; and finally Gauthier's real name, Judith Geller, and the fact that she was Jewish herself. Boxer's short lines of text summarize Geller's work, dramatizing one close encounter with a Nazi soldier and her persistence after that narrow escape. Bates's atmospheric watercolor and gouache paintings emphasizing black and muted red tones propel the scenes with varied, inventive compositions. Though the book conveys a sense of the danger for Jews and thus the urgency of Geller's work, the story was pieced together from relatively little information, as notes from the author and illustrator explain, and might work best as part of a larger lesson on the Holocaust. Back matter also includes a bibliography.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rosa Ibarra. A richly illustrated picture-book biography of Puerto Rico's first female mayor, Felisa Rincon de Gautier (1897–1994), with a lively text. As a tropical storm batters San Juan at the start of the book, the fearful residents seek refuge in the 4home of their trusted local hero, lovingly called Doña Fela. Born to a wealthy family, she recognized the social inequities in Puerto Rico from an early age, particularly those faced by Black Puerto Ricans and jibaros (farmworkers). Despite the gender restrictions of the time, which initially prevented her from voting or holding office, she maintained a strong commitment to helping the less privileged, from small acts such as providing coffee and bread to farmworkers to eventually cofounding a political party on the island. Her achievements as mayor included affordable housing, cleaner streets, and establishing the first preschools in the city. Boldly colored oil-paint illustrations admiringly portray Fela, her fellow Puerto Ricans, and the island itself. Fela is depicted in bright-colored clothing with a flower in her hair, helping readers follow her across spreads as the book moves from her youth into her later years. Back matter includes a glossary of Spanish terms, an author's note providing further context and discussing Fela's lasting influence on Puerto Rican women in politics, and an artist's note describing her personal connection to the subject. A Spanish paperback edition will be published in October.

Reviewer: Jessica Agudelo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lin. When scientist Tu Youyou had tuberculosis as a child, she was given western antibiotics in the hospital and traditional herbs at home. Grounded by that experience, Youyou tapped traditional Chinese medicine when she was called to lead a research group to cure malaria. Her 1971 discovery, a malaria-killing extract of qinghao (sweet wormwood), eventually became the standard treatment worldwide and earned her a Nobel Prize in 2015. The straightforward text is closely focused on Youyou's discovery and celebrates her persistence, problem-solving ability, and teamwork. Gentle cartoon illustrations with rounded figures and stylized faces show the earnest research team in their laboratory. A timeline, bibliography, author's note, and a step-by-step explanation of the scientific method conclude the book.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amanda Quartey. Anti-Black racism limited Althea Gibson’s professional tennis career in the United States, and antisemitism held back Angela Buxton in the UK. The two befriended each other during a tournament in Asia, and they eventually became doubles partners, winning Wimbledon and what is now known as the French Open in 1956. Dubbin uses child-friendly language to explain the discrimination both women faced. Cartoon-like illustrations accompany the straightforward prose. An author’s note and photographs of the women are appended.

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi. In 1930, Maryam "Milloo" Faruqi (the author's grandmother) lived in India and was in fifth grade when her parents told her she didn't need to go to school anymore. At that time, "this is what was expected" of girls. Milloo changed her parents' minds, completing high school and college. Reading was the gateway to physical and emotional harmony. "When she read, her thoughts danced, her mind breathed, and her heart hummed." After marriage, she was unhappy being a housewife, so she opened a school in her home, which led to several more schools in the region. Her legacy was providing education to thousands of girls and nurturing a love of reading and learning. Vivid verbs keep the text snappy, as, for example, Milloo "spun," "cha-chaed," "tiptoed," "snaked," and "danced" her way to school on a circuitous pathway. Paper collage illustrations in bright colors steal the show with lots of detail in textiles, which are embellished with stitching and gold-leaf accents. A glossary and author's note contextualize terms, provide additional historical background, and describe Milloo's other accomplishments, such as founding the Happy Home Schools in Pakistan. This visually impressive, heartwarming tale pays homage to a trailblazing advocate for literacy and education for girls in a predominantly Muslim context.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod. The tart green apple is a relatively recent variety, and we have one unsung woman from culinary and agricultural history to thank. Fortson's picture-book biography introduces the woman whose combination of skill, determination, and luck produced the Granny Smith apple. Maria Ann Smith's journey begins as the Industrial Revolution in England takes away migrant farm labor opportunities for her to support her family. Immigrating to Australia as a skilled laborer, Smith eventually buys her own orchard, where a strange new apple grows out of a compost pile. The narrative of Smith's life story is interspersed with inset text boxes addressing topics such as apple grafting and Australian history (some of which may be hard for readers to follow). Detailed watercolor illustrations provide glimpses into the life of a migrant farm worker and orchardist. Back matter includes a timeline of Smith's life and an author's note on the effects of British colonization on Australian Indigenous communities.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Joanie Stone. Power (1794-1871) was a self-taught naturalist who had to fight to be recognized for her discoveries about sea life. The Parisian dressmaker moved to Sicily after her 1818 marriage; inspired by the island's natural beauty, Power was drawn to study marine creatures. Designing "one of the world's first aquariums built for scientific study," she was able to observe living animals; her study of the paper nautilus resolved an age-old scientific mystery about its shell. This compelling picture-book biography of a trailblazing woman scientist is enhanced by period-setting illustrations featuring blues, greens, and beachy browns. Griffith concludes with more about "Jeanne's Life and Legacy," the paper nautilus, "Marine Biology and Conservation," a note about historical research, and a bibliography.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 "Julia Elizabeth Wells was born into a melody--her childhood attuned to the timbre of the tiny English village where she heard music in the rhythm of the river, in the whistle of the wind, in the symphony of songbirds." This lyrical picture-book biography focuses on the challenges and successes of Andrews's early life. When her concert-pianist mother remarried and moved to London during WWII, Julie was summoned to join her and had a difficult time adjusting to life in a large city under constant threat of bombs. But her stepfather, also a musician, discovered her gift of a voice, paid for singing lessons, and promoted her career. Julie became successful so quickly that she performed for the queen while still a child. The book concludes with a brief summary of Andrews's accomplishments as an actor and author of children's books; in an appended author's note, Hedlund describes her personal connection to her subject. Soft-hued illustrations ranging from a series of small vignettes to double-page spreads reveal setting, action, emotion, and personality, complementing the alliterative text, which is full of musical references. The case cover offers a surprise: an illustration of young Julie by the river, with Mary Poppins reflected in the water. Back matter includes a timeline (but no source notes).

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alison Jay. Perseverance and a willingness to try new things win the day in this lively picture-book biography. Latvian Jewish immigrant Annie Cohen Kopchovsky (1870–1947) is a hard worker with a determined spirit, and when she sees an advertisement that the first woman to bicycle around the world in fifteen months will win ten thousand dollars, she immediately signs up for cycling lessons. Despite never having ridden a bicycle before, Annie (now with a new last name given to her by an advertiser) soon starts a grueling journey from Boston with many setbacks, from injury to thievery to overzealous customs officials. She builds support wherever she goes by connecting with other cyclists, completes her journey in the allotted time, and begins her new life as a celebrity journalist championing women's independence. Kirkfield's text picks up on attention-grabbing details, such as the single pair of underwear that is the only thing in Annie's pocket as she begins her ride, and keeps the story focused with a repeated chorus of "Pedal. Balance. Steer!" That refrain is often worked into the illustrations, the words winding beside Annie's bicycle in Jay's characteristic flat oil paintings with a crackled varnish that adds to the sense of history. Direct quotes are often included in speech bubbles in a cursive text (which can be difficult to decode). Back matter includes an author's note with more information on Kopchovsky, the history of biking and of women riding bikes, a timeline, and an extensive bibliography.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julianna Swaney. Born in Scotland in 1857, Fleming faced many obstacles in her life but a curious mind kept her focused on "decod[ing]...the secrets of the universe." After moving to Boston with her new husband (who then disappeared), she worked as a maid for the Harvard College Observatory's director. Eventually, she became one of the observatory's "human computers"--women whose work "laid the groundwork for twentieth-century astronomy." Lasky includes context for the women's accomplishments: they had to use data collected by male astronomers because women were considered too fragile to use the telescope. Astronomical concepts might challenge some, but overall, the text is accessible. Swaney's inviting mixed-media illustrations capture Fleming's tenacious spirit. A short timeline, glossary, and bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. As a teenager, Marianne North (1830–1890) acquired a love of music, art, and especially botany (all things that her wealthy Victorian parents disapproved of), teaching herself about plants from books and observation. At the age of forty, after the death of her widowed father, North was finally free to pursue her passions. Initial trips to paint plants in North America and the Caribbean inspired her to go from being "a traveler who painted" to "a painter who traveled," visiting fifteen countries--and creating copious art there--over the next fourteen years. In this fascinating and detailed account of North's life, Lawlor (Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World, rev. 7/12) covers the difficult traveling conditions and accommodations North often encountered; even though "traveling alone was frowned upon for 'unprotected ladies,'" she remained undeterred. A few years before her death, North convinced the director of London's Kew Gardens to let her build the Marianne North Gallery to house her collection, of which 832 paintings are still viewable today. Grouped by geographic regions, they form an "astonishing" mural-like display, captured by Stadtlander (On Wings of Words, rev. 5/20) on an impressive spread. An appended note about North's legacy cogently characterizes her work in oil paint, which placed plants in their natural surroundings, as "unlike traditional botanical illustration of her time"; and Stadtlander's vibrant ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil art in lush, natural colors echoes North's own realistic style (exhibited on the endpapers via eight reproductions). Back matter also includes sources, notes, and picture credits, plus a "who's who" of other well-known people in North's noteworthy life.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maris Wicks. Mary Anning (1799–1847) loved "treasure hunting" with her father and brother along the storm-pounded cliffs of their seaside English hometown, Lyme Regis. The treasures were fossilized shell and bone "curios" they'd sell to tourists. After their father died, her brother discovered what he thought was a giant crocodile head, but it was Mary, at just thirteen, who painstakingly uncovered the entire body. The skeleton (which she thought looked like a dragon) made newspaper headlines before being sold and displayed in a museum and named an "ichthyosaur" (fish lizard). During her lifetime, self-taught Anning discovered five additional extinct creatures, including two species of plesiosaurs. Though she rarely received proper credit at the time, today she is considered the "mother of paleontology." Marsh's mainly upbeat, child-centered text is complemented by Wicks's (Primates, rev. 5/13; Astronauts, rev. 5/20) comic illustration style. Bold pencil outlines and vibrant, digitally colored hues almost pop off the page. Wicks incorporates a few graphic-novel staples--dynamic character expressions, sound effects, and speech bubbles--to add playful touches to the story. Also noteworthy are the recurring luminescent drawings outlined in white that denote Anning's imaginings, whether of extinct creatures she hopes to (or does) discover or of her deceased father watching over her. Back matter includes more details about Anning's life, quick facts about "Mary's dragons" (also creatively featured on the endpapers), information on "How to Become a Paleontologist," and a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Balbusso & Elena Balbusso. Marie Curie (1867-1934) is a household name; Bronia Duska (1865-1939), not so much. But, as this captivating picture-book biography reveals, Marie might never have achieved that name recognition were it not for Bronia, her older sister. Childhood tragedy (losing their mother and another sister to illnesses) shaped both girls' career paths, with Bronia eager to become a doctor; Marie, a researcher. Alas, 1880s Warsaw frowned upon women's higher learning, so the two studied alone until joining the "Flying University," an underground college for women. The pair then set their sights on the prestigious Sorbonne. To afford its fees, Marie pledged to tutor students to pay for Bronia to attend; in turn, after finishing her education, Bronia paid for Marie to study there. With Marie's arrival in Paris, the book's focus shifts to her love for science, the radioactivity research for which she won her first Nobel Prize, and her many other groundbreaking accomplishments. Periodically, Bronia pops back into the narrative, as she opens a hospital, introduces Marie to future husband Pierre, and directs Marie's second Radium Institute. Certainly, Marie gets more of the spotlight here, but "the power of SCIENCE--and the power of SISTERS!" is wholeheartedly celebrated, and further honored with whimsically patterned, richly textured mixed-media illustrations by--fittingly--twin-sister artists. A timeline, an author's note, and a "Partial List of Works Consulted" are appended.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Yas Imamura. When her family must flee their beloved home in Kurdistan, young Mevan's status as a refugee makes her feel smaller and smaller until she makes herself invisible. The family travels from Azerbaijan to Russia to the Netherlands, where a kind man sees her, despite her ability to hide herself, and gives her the perfect gift -- a red bicycle -- making her feel "a hundred feet tall." This true story, gently told in the third person and coauthored by Babakar herself, is brought to life through evocative mixed-media illustrations, which capture the deep loneliness of leaving a home full of friends and family. The illustrations shift from the lush greenery of Kurdistan to the stark concrete of Soviet Bloc apartments to a colorful and joyous double-page spread when Mevan first rides her bicycle. An epilogue and author's note describe more of Babakar's experience as a young refugee and tell her story of returning to the Netherlands as an adult and reuniting with the kind apartment manager who gave her the bike. A reflective story about the isolation of life as a child refugee and about the enduring effects of an act of kindness.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro. This picture-book biography introduces readers to an extraordinary Indigenous ultramarathoner. Ramírez, born in 1995, is "a proud daughter of the Rarámuri," a tribe from a remote region of Chihuahua in Mexico. Known as the "light-footed people" for their proclivity for endurance running, their abilities are forged by necessity as they travel long distances for food and supplies. Ramírez's experiences navigating rivers and trekking across deserts have trained her to endure many difficult courses and climates. Pride in her heritage is encapsulated in the image of her running in huaraches and a long woven skirt, swiftly leaving behind others wearing "fancy gear and gadgets." Medina's rhythmic text is punctuated with onomatopoeia and emphasizes Ramírez's connection to the Rarámuri traditions, including the traditional pinole drink (made of ground corn and spices, as explained in the back matter) that sustains her. Also incorporated are glimpses of Ramírez's daily life, describing how she is strengthened by her family and her community and how she "draws energy from the earth" itself. Castro's richly colored digital images depict the flora and fauna of the desert terrain and feature floral motifs that surround Ramírez like a cloud of energy. The back matter includes a list of sources and more about Ramírez's accomplishments, daily life for the Rarámuri, and how running marathons supports their community.

Reviewer: Jessica Agudelo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(3) K-3 Ordinary People Change the World series. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. "With eight of us crammed together, our world was very small. But if you look for what's good, you'll find it." In a friendly first-person text (drawn from the diary as much as possible), a cartoon Anne Frank tells readers about her childhood in Nazi Germany, her Jewish family's escape to Amsterdam, and their time spent in hiding during the Holocaust. Eliopoulos's comic-style illustrations help deliver the grim facts of the time and place; Anne's inimitable spirit comes through in both the text and art. Archival photos, a timeline, bibliography, and reading list enhance the presentation.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: You Should Meet series. Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu. The Japanese artist, fashion designer, and writer Yayoi Kusama "never stopped following her dreams." Readers learn about Kusama's childhood and career, from Japan to New York City and back; the focus is on her creativity and determination in the face of obstacles (for example, plagiarism of her work by male peers, including Andy Warhol). The cleanly designed early reader features illustrations bursting with color, many pages featuring Kusama's signature polka dots. Some loosely related facts about Japan, art, and artists, along with a comprehension quiz, are included.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) K-3 Translated by Jethro Soutar. Spare first-person text describes Alfonsina Strada's early childhood explorations with a bicycle and lightly sketches her groundbreaking career as a female cyclist in early-twentieth-century Italy. Creating chaos wherever she cycled, and at first dressing as a boy, Strada soon throws off her trousers, hat, and suspenders--shown in a striking double-page spread--to openly ride as a girl. Townspeople react with shock, leaping out of the way as she barrels, carefree, through crowds. The text is extremely brief, providing more of a peek into an intriguing life than actual biographical information. Major life events, including the notable fact that she was the only woman to have ridden one of cycling's three major stage races, are not included in the text (end matter would have been welcome for readers wanting to learn more about a fascinating character, but no additional information is provided). The illustrations, in a limited palette of bold oranges, yellows, blues, and greens, echo the style of the screen-printed flyers for cycling races that appear in the background through the book. Animals in the illustrations seem fascinated by Strada, their gaze emphasizing her wildness as she describes how riding and racing allow her to be free. A compelling, if incomplete, introduction to a little-known pioneer in women's sports.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) K-3 Fernández Nitsche follows the life of iconic Argentinian folk singer and social activist Mercedes Sosa (1935–2009), from her humble working-class upbringing to her enduring posthumous legacy as a “voice of the voiceless.” Readers learn about Sosa’s off-the-cuff first public performance at the age of fifteen; her evolution from timorous greenhorn to world-renowned, powerhouse songstress; and her musical innovation. On spreads portraying age-appropriate scenes of protest and dictatorship, Sosa’s human rights advocacy is recognized, courageous work that led to her imprisonment, exile, and eventual status as a national and Latin American hero. Readers may be left wanting to know what enabled Sosa’s triumphant repatriation. Back matter includes a biographical timeline, a glossary of Spanish words used in the text, and a playlist of the author’s favorite Sosa songs. A fitting tribute to a cultural lodestar.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Morstad. This picture-book biography of the first woman to complete a solo motorcycle trip around the world begins in 1973 Paris. Wishing to see and write about "Elsewhere," the titular "girl" (French journalist Anne-France Dautheville, unnamed until the back matter) flies with her motorcycle to Montreal. From there, she rides to Anchorage; flies to Tokyo and then Bombay; rides until her bike breaks down and then takes a train to Delhi; and so on until, tens of thousands of miles and four months later, she returns to Paris. Novesky's lyrical text, full of lush sensory detail, emphasizes the character's wonder but also her determination: "Ribbons of dust unfurl behind her. Dirt stings her eyes. Sun burns her skin. Air vibrates with heat. She falls often...But she always gets back up." The retro 1970s palette and travel-poster aesthetic of Morstad's pencil, ink, and digital illustrations capture the very different types of beauty the motorcyclist encounters in bustling cities, welcoming villages, and wide-open landscapes. One particularly breathtaking spread portrays the woman's small form floating in a luminous teal pool far below the vast, jewel-toned swirls of the aurora borealis. Based on Dautheville's own writings (especially Une demoiselle sur une moto, 1973), this is a lovely tribute to both the pioneering motorcyclist and the joys of the open road.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(1) K-3 Lyrical writing and fanciful scissor-cut, watercolor, and felt pen illustrations are a perfect match for this sophisticated exploration of the life and work of groundbreaking animator Charlotte "Lotte" Reiniger (1899–1981), told in three parts. Each section begins with an elegant title card, as if the reader were watching a silent film. Part one focuses on young Lotte's early life in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Berlin, establishing her love of fairy tales and cinema. After receiving a gift of articulating Chinese puppets, her life is forever changed from being "a reader and viewer of stories into a teller of stories." As a teenager, her unique interests in both acting and Scherenschnitte ("scissor cuts") lead to an opportunity to experiment with stop-motion in what becomes a wildly popular film. Parts two and three chronicle her meeting of her future husband/creative partner, introduction to the Tricktisch (or "trick/animation table"), and journey to create the first animated fairy-tale feature film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926). Every spread offers an exceptional visual experience, regularly amplifying aspects of the narrative. For example, winding film tape gracefully draws the reader's eye across the page, while a stunning vertically orientated layout reinforces how a multiplane camera works. Vivid watercolor washes, similar to dyes used throughout Reiniger's films, pop against the mostly black backgrounds and silhouetted figures. Substantial back matter includes bibliographic resources as well as an author's note summarizing Reiniger's multi-decade career (and acknowledging the orientalism found in her early work).

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Duncan. Text and pictures work together to capture the life and spirit of a remarkable woman. As a child in England, Beatrice ­Shilling (1909–1990) "wasn't quite like" other children, preferring tools to candy. She grew up to be so clever with tools and so interested in fixing engines and machines that at fourteen she bought and rebuilt her own motorcycle; was later accepted to university to study engineering (art shows Beatrice walking into a room full of men as the text states that she "wasn't quite like" the other students); and subsequently got a job in the Royal Aircraft Establishment. During WWII, when it was discovered that Spitfire and Hurricane planes had a fatal flaw in their fuel delivery systems that caused the engines to fail in crucial moments, it was Beatrice who solved the problem. She devised a simple restrictor--"a little piece of metal with a hole in it"--that was cheap and easy to install. "When Beatrice roared up on her motorcycle with her bag full of tools, pilots knew they didn't have to worry anymore." The text is lively and succinct, full of vigorous action verbs. The expressive illustrations convey time and place beautifully and are infused variously with humor (such as when apprentice-engineer Beatrice, helping to bring electricity to villages, falls through a ceiling) and drama (as in a stunning double-page spread of London aflame during the Blitz). An author's note stresses the support Shilling received from individual women and women's ­organizations, enabling her to break through the barriers she faced; a list of selected sources completes the book.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Vali Mintzi. Osnat Barzani (1590–1670) convinced her father, a rabbi, to teach her to read Hebrew, unusual as that was for a girl at the time, and her curious mind embraced Jewish learning. In lyrical prose ("Osnat loved the shapes of the Hebrew letters. One looked like a mysterious animal, and another, a creeping vine"), Samuel spins the story of a woman who studied Torah throughout her marriage and took over her husband's yeshiva after his death. She incorporates the miraculous powers that some legends grant Barzani, mainly via a dove that she heals and that helps save the synagogue after a fire. Mintzi's striking, mostly full-bleed illustrations (often luminous "gouache colors in layers") show Osnat in the beautiful, sometimes dreamlike city of Mosul (in what is now Iraq). An author's note gives background on the legends Samuel used to inspire her account of the woman whose writings don't all survive, but who is "remembered locally as the first female rabbi and the first female Kurdish Jewish leader."

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tara Anand. Singh tells the real-life story of how, at age twenty-one and despite coming from an underprivileged background, Rasila Vadher became the first woman forest guard in Gir Forest National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary, established in Gujarat, India, to protect Asiatic lions. Narrated in first-person prose that captures Vadher’s lion-hearted spirit and the risky but rewarding nature of her work, the book describes how pivotal (and painful) events in her childhood thrust her into the role of family breadwinner, stoked her passion for protecting the large, powerful cats, and prepared her to challenge gender bias. Back matter lists intriguing facts about Asiatic lions and acquaints readers with the Lion Queens -- an all-woman forest patrol whose members Vadher trained. Minimalist digital illustrations in tropical monsoon colors create a sense of openness that echoes Vadher’s mindset. Pair with Reynolds’s The Lion Queens of India (rev. 1/21).

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli. Almeida, who grew up in Scotland in the 1930s and 40s, "dreamed of studying science at a university." She had to quit school at sixteen, however, to help her family financially. She found a job in a hospital lab and went on to make significant contributions to virology at labs in Canada and London. Slade focuses on Almeida's work, mentioning life challenges (including divorce and single parenthood) but not dwelling on them. Paganelli's illustrations are a mixture of reflecting the text and fancifully expanding it. "More About June" includes three black-and-white photos. A timeline and bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Emily Paik. In early-nineteenth-century England, young Mary Anning sold shells and fossils she chipped away from the seaside cliffs. Anning’s earnings supported her struggling family; her customers paid top dollar for her unique finds, but many of them were wealthy, educated men who earned prestige for the incredible scientific impact of Anning’s specimens. This digitally illustrated profile alternates between images of folksy, hardworking Anning and her buttoned-up, well-dressed patrons, asking readers to mull over the relationship between the two. Ample back matter provides additional context to the history of paleontology and Anning’s incredible contributions to the field. A thought-provoking introduction to the life of a fascinating, largely unsung heroine.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lauren Soloy. Maud Lewis (1903–1970) was a Nova Scotian folk artist who lived with rheumatoid arthritis. Despite physical and economic challenges, she never let her passion for art fade away. As a child, when her hands become too bent and stiff to play the piano, she starts painting. When her parents die and her brother sells the house, Maud finds a job as fish peddler Everett Lewis's live-in housekeeper (and eventually marries him, though this isn't mentioned in the book). There's not much money for paint, but Maud makes the best of what she has, adding "touches of colour" to Everett's "dull little house," painting birds and butterflies on the doors and flowers on the windows. Eventually she is able to sell her beautiful paintings and gain recognition for her creations. Stinson celebrates not only Lewis's artistic achievements but also her resilient spirit in the face of poverty and hardship. Soloy's illustrations capture the essence of Lewis's unique artistic style with a cheery palette that reflects the text's upbeat tone. A touching and uplifting tribute, this book emphasizes the importance of finding beauty in the everyday and persevering through life's challenges.

Reviewer: Weileen Wang | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Evelyn Glennie grew up 1960s Scotland surrounded by music: her mother played the organ and her father played the accordion. By the age of eight, Evelyn could play songs by ear on the piano. She began to experience degenerative hearing loss when she was ten. She was determined to continue playing music, however; she knew that even though she couldn't hear, she could still feel its rhythm and vibrations. After high school, she auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in ­London, "but they turned her down. No one believed that a deaf musician could have a career in music." ­Glennie fought the decision and eventually was ­admitted--and because of her, "every music school in Great Britain changed its rules... No one should be turned away because of a disability." Glennie's career has taken her around the world; she has won numerous awards (including two Grammys) and was knighted in 1993. Stocker's engaging text is ably supported by Holzwarth's vibrant illustrations, which effectively use color and pattern and movement to represent sound. An author's note provides more information about this remarkable musician's work, and a list of references is appended.

Reviewer: Maija Meadows Hasegawa | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers. Stone's dedication -- "For anyone who did something awesome and didn't feel the love" -- sets the reparative tone for this picture-book biography of scientist Franklin (1920–1958), whose Photo 51 cracked the DNA code while competing researchers James Watson and Francis Crick took the credit (and the 1962 Nobel Prize). As she weaves science and history, Stone unravels dual mysteries centering on the double helix: how the "secret of life...makes you -- YOU" and how a "twist of fate" triggered Franklin's posthumous recognition. Powers's watercolors perfectly blend representative and expressive styles. Realistically rendered characters and period details set the story in its mid-twentieth-century milieu, while experimental techniques offer evocative visual commentary; for example, when Franklin argues with Watson and Crick, blue watercolor blotches disrupt the tidy floral border and explode the ground beneath them. Although Stone opens by warning, "This true story doesn't really have a happy ending," Powers's accompanying fairy tale–esque castle, adorned with scientific instruments, foreshadows a time in which readers are empowered to interrogate the historical record and reclaim the stories of little-heralded figures. An author's note explains the Matilda Effect, a historical pattern in which men take credit for women's work.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(1) K-3 With fittingly bold, whimsical, flowing illustrations, this picture-book biography showcases Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid, who "dreamed big and defied convention." Born in Baghdad in 1950, Hadid was an active, observant child, noticing the shifting "light and shadow play" in local palaces and mosques, and the "rippling harmony" between people and their environment in the Iraqi marshes--keen observations that would later inform her work. After studying math in Beirut, Hadid moved to London: "It was time to get serious about studying architecture." The daring young professional, who "reached for paints and brushes and conjured structures that tilted, swayed, and floated on air," was hired by two of her professors after graduation and also entered design competitions. Tentler-Krylov describes Hadid's confident persistence in the face of criticism ("she had to be tougher than most") and tracks her burgeoning career with vivid details (her fire station in Germany resembled "a bird taking flight"). Rendered with watercolor and digital tools, the illustrations exude energy and power. This stirring tribute to the "first woman, first Iraqi, first Muslim, and youngest person ever" to win the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest award, includes an author's note, a timeline, a bibliography, and endpapers featuring photos of Hadid's most famous structures. Pair with Jeanette Winter's picture-book biography of Hadid, The World Is Not a Rectangle (rev. 9/17).

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. Turner tells the amazing story of Caroline Herschel (1750–1848), a pioneering woman in STEM, from her young life as family housekeeper to the discovery of a comet that earns her a paid retainer from the king of England. Despite her mother's insistence on keeping her as a helper in the home, Herschel's curiosity and hard work mean that she is able to first support and eventually work side by side with her brother in both music and astronomy. The scientific siblings create and build new telescopes that can see further into space than anyone has before, leading to a series of remarkable discoveries. (Many readers will be fascinated to learn that pounded horse dung was the innovation that allowed the Herschels to build their telescope and change astronomy.) Turner peppers the text with direct quotes from Herschel's memoir and with memorable moments, such as the winter night when even Caroline's ink freezing in the inkwell did not stop her journey of discovery. Mildenberger's painted illustrations have a historical feeling and are often muddy or dark, but bright stars and faces shine out of the blues and browns. Her characters' animated facial expressions bring scenes to life. Back matter includes additional biographical information, a glossary, sources for quotations in the text, and further reading.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gloria Félix. Dancer Alicia Alonso (1920-2019) grew up in Cuba, where she attended the island's sole, poorly funded ballet school. In 1937 she moved to New York to study at the American Ballet Theatre and was well on her way to becoming a prima ballerina when she began to lose her eyesight. In a well-paced narrative, Viña emphasizes Alonso's resilience and determination--as she contends with a new country and language and later as she recovers from eye surgeries, reenters the dance world, learns to dance with impaired vision, and eventually returns to Cuba to teach. Félix's cartoon-style illustrations focus on movement and emotion. An author's note and bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stevie Lewis. A picture-book biography of the world’s all-time strongest female chess player traces the Hungarian trailblazer’s journey from child prodigy to becoming the youngest chess grandmaster in history. Wallmark relates how Polgár’s coaches and uber-supportive family helped her make all the right moves to maximize her talent, and recounts the iconic, aggressive endgames that propelled her to international stardom en route to her crowning achievement. The book does not stand on ceremony when it comes to calling out the flagrant misogyny in the chess world, but sacrifices some emotional texture by failing to register other challenges Polgár and her family faced. Lewis’s digital illustrations in a palette of mostly neutral colors underscore Polgár’s steadiness and cool-headedness, as well as the stability provided by her parents and sisters.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Schu. With a refrain of "snip, snip, snip!" the story introduces readers to German film pioneer Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981). Lotte's adolescence coincided with the dawn of cinema, a time when movies "were silent but filled with magical sights." She utilized her Scherenschnitte ("scissor cuts") skills to create her own paper-cut puppet shows, eventually seeking the guidance and partnership of cinema professionals. Success with early stop-motion experimentation, along with acclaim for a groundbreaking four-minute animated film, led to a wealthy patron. Reiniger, assisted by her husband and a small crew, worked for nearly three years to complete a sixty-five-minute animated movie titled The Adventures of Prince Achmed, which mesmerized audiences. Schu's exquisite digital illustrations possess a strong sense of illumination and depth, often suggesting a tactile quality, as if constructed from paper. Visually, much of the book is shadowy and dark, particularly around the perimeter of pages, simulating the experience of watching a shadow puppet play; however, bursts of radiant color spotlight (literally and figuratively) key areas of interest. A helpful author's note identifies the Chinese origins of paper cutting and Reiniger's specific contributions to filmmaking (some of which are often incorrectly accredited to Walt Disney). Additional back matter includes a timeline, a bibliography, and a glossary. See also Robinson's Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie (rev. 3/22).

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. In this inspiring picture-book biography, readers meet renowned Japanese mountain climber, educator, and environmentalist Junko Tabei (1939–2016), the first woman to successfully summit Mount Everest. Tabei's love for hiking started as a child when she climbed Mount Chausu. As an adult, Tabei moved to Tokyo to attend university, married a fellow hiker, started a family, and founded a women's-only mountaineering club. Pushing back against sexist expectations and limitations, Tabei's club fundraised for years and made their own equipment for their 1975 Mount Everest trek. Yasuda's evocative prose makes readers feel as if they are outdoors with Tabei, from the serene early hikes to the dangerous, avalanche-fraught Himalayan climb. Shimizu's brilliant India ink and digitally colored art further immerses readers in the natural world, pairing breathtaking mountain views with folktale-like images that emphasize community, such as Tabei and other women soaring through the sky or Tabei radiating love while planting an apple tree to support Nepali villagers. This volume is a master class in perseverance, respecting the environment, and supporting others. Back matter includes an informative author's note, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mariam Quraishi. In a text rich with imagery, Yuksel (In My Mosque) tells the true story of Fatima ­al-Fihri, whose one wish was to build a school for all. But how? As a girl in early-ninth-century Tunisia who was tutored at home, Fatima did not know how to actualize such a grandiose vision. Then her family was forced to flee Tunisia due to war; they resettled as refugees in Fez, Morocco, where she eventually married. Upon the deaths of her father and husband, she decided to use her substantial inheritance to realize her dream and establish a school. After much planning, the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque (which, per the appended note, "functioned as a school from its inception" and is now the ­University of ­al-Qarawiyyin) opened, a place where all students, "especially the poor and the refugees, could live and study for free." Watercolor and gouache illustrations contrast bright colors with sandy tones of the landscape while revealing the school's distinctive architectural style, replete with spacious courtyards and arches adorned with mosaics. The illustrations develop their own visual language: Fatima's yellow dress and blue scarf are consistent through the book as she matures; future students don clothes that repeat the same patterns, linking past with present. Ample back matter includes a glossary; more information about ­al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest existing and continuously operating university in the world; and an author's note separating speculation from fact. A welcome story that emphasizes the intellectual foundations of Islamic North Africa and the importance of charitable work that plants seeds for subsequent generations.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022