REVIEW: IT’S WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY!

THIS is a day worth celebrating! And to do so, I reached for one of my favorite illustrated books about bold women:

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​TITLE: LITTLE LEADERS: BOLD WOMEN IN BLACK HISTORY
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Vashti Harrison
PUBLISHER: Little Brown and Company/2017
OPENING LINES: 
 
Phillis Wheatley
Circa 1753-1784
Poet
 
Phillis’ literary skills were apparent early on. She published her first story when she was about fourteen years old. For anyone, this would be a major feat, but Phillis was a slave, so it was truly unique.

​This book is chock-full of short biographies about trailblazing women in black history. Following an introduction, Vashti Harrison selected 40 women to illustrate in her signature (and to-die-for) style, arranged them in chronological order, and provided a one-page bio on each. Best for the older elementary-aged reader, but accessible to all, this book highlights many (certainly not all) black women who have done extraordinary things and have opened doors for more to follow. She concludes the book by adding a dozen more women on her “More Little Leaders” spread and provides some resources for further reading (and watching and listening). I love the way Harrison chose to position the Little Leaders in the same spot on the recto page (try flipping through the pages like a flip-book), that readers can read the book from beginning to end or in any order (table of contents provided), that she provided the inspiration for creating the book, and that she chose to focus on the lives of a collection of black women who have impacted our history. I think this book belongs in every school, community, classroom, and family library.
 
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