Thanks to Frances Perkins

July 6, 2020
Opening with an interactive framing device, this informative biography of the first female presidential cabinet member encourages young readers to appreciate the groundwork laid for modern American workers’ rights. Recounting Perkins’s upbringing and the ideals, about helping others, that she internalized, the narrative focuses on the figure’s radicalization after witnessing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and hearing a subsequent rousing speech by labor activist Rose Schneiderman. Organizing, then laboring to get bills passed, Perkins eventually becomes Franklin D. Roosevelt’s secretary of Labor and works to establish Social Security. Digital illustrations in a subdued palette evoke classic watercolor and pencil drawings, and illustrated circles effectively illuminate specific moments. While challenging vocabulary may give young readers pause—”social responsibility” and “unemployment insurance” are among the terms that go undefined—guardians seeking a woman activist’s framework, with actionable steps that resonate today, will find this picture book attractive. Back matter includes further information on Social Security, as well as an author’s note and additional resources. Ages 6–10.

June 15, 2020
Why do we all owe Frances Perkins a thank you? Framed with the questions "How many years will it be until you turn sixty-two?" and "What year will that be?" this straightforward selection covers the accomplishments of workers rights advocate Frances Perkins, from her fight for safe and fair treatment of working men, women, and children to her Great Depression-era achievements as FDR's Secretary of Labor. The detailed artwork effectively portrays the world in which she lived and the situations she sought to improve. It's noted that her education was unusual for a woman of her time and that she was the first American woman to serve in a presidential Cabinet, though the text stops short of providing an explicit description of the position of other women of the time. The childhood influence of various family members is addressed while her husband and child are briefly referenced (the mental illness that affected both is not), and her same-sex relationship goes unmentioned. What ultimately emerges is an engaging portrayal of a dedicated and influential woman who strove to improve the lives of others through various reforms, all succinctly explained, and the text returns to the initial questions, showing how Social Security is relevant to all. Perkins and those around her are depicted as white with few exceptions, but a closing scene set in the present day includes a multiracial and multiethnic gathering of people celebrating her legacy. An informative portrait of an activist and advocate whose accomplishments are still evident today. (author's note, online resources, bibliography, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

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July 1, 2020
Grades 1-3 Well educated and sympathetic to progressive causes, Frances Perkins witnessed the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist fire in 1911 and decided to do what she could to improve the safety and welfare of American workers. After thorough research, she urged lawmakers to make changes, first in New York City and then in state government, where Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her to run the Labor Office. Later, when FDR became president, he appointed her as Secretary of Labor, making her the first woman to join a presidential cabinet. Within his administration, Perkins initiated many long-lasting programs and worked tirelessly to promote federal laws concerning a minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and Social Security. The book explains to children how the latter program works and why they might thank Perkins for it someday. The lively text presents Perkins' life and times, while emphasizing her significant contributions to society. Created using pleasant, subdued colors, the well-composed digital illustrations bring past eras into focus and show Perkins' determined work on behalf of others. An informative picture-book biography of a notable American.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

August 1, 2020

Gr 1-4-American workers have much to be thankful for due to the advocacy of Frances Perkins in the early 1900s. Born in Boston in 1880, Perkins graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1902. In 1910, she earned her master's degree from Columbia University. Her contributions to early labor movements began with the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911; soon after witnessing the tragedy that claimed the lives of 146 people, Perkins joined the fight for workers' rights and became a member of a safety committee to ensure better conditions for workers. In 1933, Perkins became the first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet when President Franklin D. Roosevelt named her Secretary of Labor. She held the position for 12 years. Hopkinson details Perkins's journey from an activist to an authority on labor rights in the state of New York, culminating in the establishment of Social Security as a part of Roosevelt's New Deal. Caldwell's circular illustrations use a muted palette, and her simple drawings depict an appropriate representation of the time period. An author's note, sources, a bibliography, websites, and critical thinking questions are included. VERDICT An informative picture book profiling an influential woman in the labor rights movement. Recommended for most biography collections. Pair with Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel.-Jamie Jensen, Wayne Cox Elem. Sch., Roanoke, TX

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