Timely Take-aways for life-long Learners: Strong Women Around the World

From a planetary scientist to a pirate’s wife, several new autobiographies and biographies explore the lives of lesser-known women through history. Whether using her position as first lady to support educational projects or solving crimes on the high seas, these nontraditional women left powerful legacies.

A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman: A Memoir
Lindy Elkins-Tanton, May 2022, William Morrow, HarperCollins
Themes: Memoir, Science, Women

Elkins-Tanton overcame a traumatic childhood and ovarian cancer to become the principal investigator on a major space exploration project. Her engaging story shares personal connections with science and how these experiences lead her to find meaning in life.

Take-aways: Teachers will find useful examples that demonstrate how to nurture a passion for science in students, particularly young women.

A Woman of Adventure:
The Life and Times of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover
Annette B. Dunlap, June 2022, Potomac Books and Longleaf Services
Themes: Biography, First Ladies, Women

While supporting her husband’s political career and the needs of her family, Lou Henry Hoover was still able to promote educational opportunities for women. This engaging biography shares the fascinating life and powerful legacy of this less-known first lady.

Take-aways: Students are likely familiar with first ladies such as Eleanor Roosevelt. Use this biography to demonstrate the achievements of first lady Lou Henry Hoover.

Woman, Captain, Rebel:
The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain
Margaret Willson, January 2023, Sourcebooks
Themes: Biography, Maritime History, Women

This fast-paced, well-researched biography tells the story of Captain Thurídur Einarsdóttir, a woman who fought for human rights as Iceland’s most famous female sea captain. Whether solving a robbery or challenging social norms, this powerful woman fought for underrepresented Icelanders.

Take-aways: Women’s stories are underrepresented in the world history curriculum. Feature the story of Captain Thurídur Einarsdóttir to demonstrate the ongoing struggles of women in nontraditional roles.

The Pirate’s Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd
Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos, Dec 2022, Hanover Square Press, HarperCollins
Themes: Biography, Maritime History, Women

During the Golden Age of Piracy, socialite turned legendary accomplice Sarah Kidd fought behind the scenes in support of her infamous pirate husband. This work of narrative nonfiction connects this resourceful woman to the larger story of pirate wives.

Take-aways: Traditional pirate stories overlook the role wives played in support of their swashbuckling husbands. Weave this example into the broader context of the Golden Age of Piracy.

In Search of Amrit Kaur: A Lost Princess and Her Vanished World
Livia Manera Sambuy, Mar 2023, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Macmillan
Themes: Biography, World History, Women

Livia Manera Sambuy traces the forgotten story of H. H. Amrit Kaur of Mandi, a woman who left her family for personal freedom and spoke out for women’s rights.

Take-aways: Teachers are always looking for less-known stories and perspectives.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

Synergy: Lighthouse

Lighthouses emit lights to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots. These beacons may be housed in a tower, building or other structure. Lighthouses identify hazards such as dangerous reefs, rocks, and coastlines. They may also be used as a guide to safe harbors.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture book for children, then learn more at the websites:

KEEPER OF THE LIGHT: JULIET FISH NICHOLS FIGHTS THE SAN FRANCISCO FOG by Caroline Arnold is a fascinating biography exploring the experiences of a light keeper in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and other challenges. Inspired by light keeper logs, the engaging story brings history alive for young readers.

JULIET FISH NICHOLS is a short article in Lighthouse Digest with useful information and photographs.

Go to http://www.lighthousedigest.net/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=2185

THE LIGHTHOUSE DIRECTORY identifies thousands of lighthouses around the world. 

Go to http://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/

The PHAROLOGY website explores the history of lighthouses, how they work, and locations around the world.

Go to http://www.pharology.eu/ 

LOGBOOKS OF THE US LIGHTHOUSES, 1872-1940 from the National Archives is a fun way to introduce students to logbooks as primary sources.

Go to https://www.archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/lighthouses.html

ARC courtesy of Harry N. Abrams, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Synergy: Lotte Reiniger

Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981) was a German filmmaker. Known for her feature-length animated films and multi-plane camera, she was a pioneer in silhouette animation. She produced some of the earliest animated films including The Adventures of Prince Achmed, the first full-length fairytale animated film.

Read the recently published nonfiction book for youth then learn more at the website.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Fiona Robinson is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Lotte Reiniger, the creator of the first animated fairytale movie.  Robinson’s lyrical text and unique illustrations skillfully reflect Reiniger’s passion for fairy tales, puppet theater, and early cinema. The book concludes with an author’s note and bibliography.

THE ART OF LOTTE REINIGER is a short documentary demonstrating her animation process.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/q-TJvNBO1fw.

LOTTE REINIGER is a short video from the BBC exploring this unsung heroine of early animation.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/3Gm9kZLP0uE.

CINDERELLA (Aschenputtel) is a digitized version of the original fairy film in shadow show.

To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/poq0bf6M8Z8.

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Synergy: Women’s History

Women’s history studies the role females played in history. This includes how women and their perspectives are (or aren’t) represented in standard historical references. Specifically, women’s history includes their struggle for equality and freedom along with recognition for contributions overlooked by traditional historical sources.

Read the recently published work of graphic nonfiction, then learn more at the website.

GOOD GIRLS DON’T MAKE HISTORY by Elizabeth Kiehner, Kara Coyle, and Keith Olwell is a powerful and visually stunning work of graphic nonfiction. Young adults will immediately connect with the contemporary issues of voter suppression including long lines to vote. Through short, focused vignettes, readers learn about women’s history while also exploring larger issues of enslaved people, indigenous people, and others facing challenges to their human rights. Weaving in lesser known stories along with well-known turning points, the graphic history includes images and references to primary source documents and quotes from key figures.

The WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE TIMELINE from the National Women’s History Museum contains dozens of key events in women’s history. The website also includes resources for students and educators along with biographies, articles, and online exhibits.

To explore the timeline, go to https://bit.ly/3x5lPSt.

To visit the National Women’s History Museum, go to https://womenshistory.org/

ARC courtesy of Wide Eyed Editions. Distributed by the Quarto Group.

Synergy: Women’s Suffrage

Women’s suffrage is the right of women to vote. Beginning in the late 19th century, women sought to change the voting laws to allow them to vote. Women gained the right to vote in the United States after ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. In the United Kingdom, women had equal suffrage with men in 1928. Most Canadian women gained suffrage between 1917-1919, however it wasn’t until 1960 that aboriginal women gained the right to vote. Native American women and women of color were often denied the right to vote in the United States until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Read the recently published children’s book on this topic, then learn more at the website.

SUFFRAGETTE: THE BATTLE FOR EQUALITY by David Roberts celebrates dozens of key figures in the suffrage movement both in the US and the UK. Told chronologically, this highly illustrated work of nonfiction takes readers step-by-step through the long process. The book concludes by exploring key figures from around the world.

SHALL NOT BE DENIED is an online exhibit at the Library of Congress. The online resources are divided into five sections. Each section explores a time period in the Women’s Movement including key events, people, and primary sources.

Shall Not Be Denied https://bit.ly/3aJhEln

ARC courtesy of Walker Books, a vision of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a public servant who became the second woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

Read the recently published children's book, then learn more through the video:

RUTH OBJECTS: THE LIFE OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG by Doreen Rappaport is the latest addition to the Big Words picture book series featuring legendary figures.

The Biography channel produces short video biographies on well-known individuals. Check out their video on Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg https://youtu.be/eY9OE-Eq4TE

ARC courtesy of Disney-Hyperion.

Book Review: Eleanore Roosevelt

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE by Ilene Cooper is a biography focusing on Roosevelt’s lasting impact.

Designed for intermediate and middle grade readers, this biography includes the basics of Roosevelt’s life. However this work of nonfiction places emphasis on her transformation into an advocate for social justice. The author uses a conversational approach to describe how Roosevelt overcame her own prejudices and used her powerful position to promote important causes such as the Civil Rights Movement. Historic photographs and other illustrations will contribute to the appeal of this title. The book includes a timeline, biography, and index.

Librarians will find their collection filled with books on Eleanor Roosevelt. What makes this book unusual is its emphasis on her national and international contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and other efforts related to social justice. Students doing reports on both Roosevelt and the Civil Rights Movement will find the book useful.

Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers on August 7, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.