Emmeline Pankhurst

August 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-The next volumes in the "Little People, Big Dreams" series continue to offer snippets of famous female figures' lives, all accompanied by sweet and approachable illustrations. The series' subjects range from activists and artists, as evidenced by these selections. In Audrey Hepburn, vague details are given about the historical events that shaped the actor's life, such as a big war that left many malnourished, including the future star, but it's never specified that the event is World War II. In addition to detailing her accomplishments as a performer, the book emphasizes her work with children in need in India and Africa (countries are never specified). The entries about the activists provide more information and feel more nuanced. In Emmeline Pankhurst, readers learn about the beginnings of the suffragette movement in Great Britain and one of its important progenitors. She fought for women's rights from an early age, because as a young girl she couldn't pursue the education she longed for. Rosa Parks gives tidbits about the civil rights leader's childhood and some of the work she did after the famous bus incident, in addition to her iconic act of civil disobedience. Each title is made more digestible by charming and quirky kidlike images. Short time lines with photos and a couple of suggestions for further research are included. VERDICT The illustrations make these titles standouts where picture book biographies need a fresher take. Otherwise, additional purchases.-Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Grades K-3 With these new volumes, three activists of very different backgrounds join the ranks of remarkable women profiled in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The inviting illustrations and familiar picture-book format make these biographies friendly choices for young readers looking to learn more about real-life heroes. Using only one or two sentences per page, the text gives a general overview of each woman's life, focusing on her childhood and accomplishments in the face of adversity. Emmeline Pankhurst spotlights this spirited suffragette and her fight to win women equality and the right to vote. Emmeline is shown boldly taking action and adopting the motto Deeds, not Words. Each of these well-rounded titles concludes with a more detailed bio and photo-illustrated time line, making this a genial and inspirational series for little ones.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)