Go, Girls, Go!

September 1, 2019
Girl power meets things that go in this colorful early picture book. Girls with diverse skin colors, hair colors, and hair textures drive, conduct, steer, speed, rev, fly, build, load, dump, and rocket in vehicles of many different types. A spread introducing three girls being active in their vehicles is followed by a spread calling out the sounds their machines make ("VROOM! goes Emma. / HOOT! goes Meg. / CLANK! goes Jayla"), then a spread saying "GO, GIRLS, GO!" This three-spread pattern repeats with three new girls and vehicles each time. From trains and tractors to tugboats, taxis, planes, and motorcycles, these girls "go" in every way, working, playing and saving the day. Girls from previous spreads help girls on later spreads, showing an ideal of cooperation and unity that furthers the value of the girl-power message. On the last "GO, GIRLS, GO!" spread, all the girls march together, some holding signs for peace, equality, and womanhood--a touch that may tip the balance a bit too far into the realm of didacticism for some tastes. The illustrations feature bright primary colors, block shapes, patterns, stars, and large, clear fonts that will appeal to young audiences. With repeated readings, pre-readers will be reciting the words on their own. A hit for girls who identify strongly with girlhood and love things that go. (Picture book. 3-6)

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