Tag: feminism

Declaration of the Rights of Boys and Girls (Élisabeth Brami & Estelle Billon-Spagnol)

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Hello friends, and Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate this holiday dedicated in part to embracing gender equality, our book today is Declaration of the Rights of Boys and Girls by Élisabeth Brami and Estelle Billon-Spagnol, a 2-in-1 title that explains the basics of gender neutrality and fairness.

Boy and girls are equal; in importance, in value, and in potential. So it’s important to know that from the start, boys and girls have an equal right to do the things they want to do. In The Rights of Girls, readers are reminded that girls are allowed to get dirty, have short hair, wear whatever fashions suit them, and play any sport that excites them. Flip the book over, and The Rights of Boys remind readers that it’s perfectly okay for boys to cry, dance, have tender or nurturing feelings, and learn how to cook and clean. And for either gender, readers are assured that whomever they grow up to love – no matter that partner’s gender – they have that right as well.

Flawed but well-intentioned. With the original French version of this book being printed nearly ten years ago, there are some elements that have not aged well: an emphasis on the gender binary, a lack of diversity in skintone/ability/body shape, and several Asian-coded characters with yellowish skin. However, what the book does get right is a simple and plain-spoken assurance of children’s right to buck gender norms, including several that other books on the subject often leave out, such as the fact that it is normal for some girls (and women) to not have maternal feelings towards babies, or that it’s okay for boys not to feel aggression or competitiveness. For JJ, a scene in which a young girl has a mohawk buzz-cut into her hair was a joy to behold, and she rarely sees other girls – in real life or in media – with very short hair like her. The length is great, and both books can be covered in a single sitting. So while there are definitely some imperfections here, the core concept is solid, and would make for a great jumping-off point on gender equality for young readers. Overall, Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Strut, Baby, Strut (Amika Kroll)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Strut, Baby, Strut, written by Amika Kroll and illustrated by Ebony Glenn, a delightful board book that celebrates female confidence, drive, and friendship.

From their first days, girls are on the move. Baby shimmies and scoots turn into toddler skips and jumps, to big kid runs, leaps, and explorations. As girls grow, they can reach high for their dreams and work hard towards their goals, no matter what those might be. And always, girls and women should support each other, and give each other the confidence to strut their own way.

Girl-powered goodness. Following three friends from infanthood to adulthood, this sweet and simple tale of empowerment and encouragement has a lot going for it. The three central girl characters, as well as the all-female background cast, are diverse in skintone as well as body type (the latter an element that books looking to be inclusive often overlook). The girls celebrated achievements include athletics, academic success, and activism. The text encourages readers to “know your worth” and “lead”. The rhyming text does have an inconsistent meter that can make reading aloud tricky, but the bright and colorful illustrations and uplifting sentiments more than make up for the stumbles. The length is great for even the smallest bookworms, and JJ and I both really liked this one, both for the dynamic artwork and ease of reading. Overall, this was an energetic delight, and we recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Alice Across America: The Story of the First Women’s Cross-Country Road Trip (Sarah Glenn Marsh)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Alice Across America: The Story of the First Women’s Cross-Country Road Trip, written by Sarah Glenn Marsh and illustrated by Gilbert Ford.

From when Alice Ramsey was a little girl, she loved to go fast. Graduating from horses to the relatively-new invention of automobiles in her adulthood, she surprised many by becoming a skilled driver and racer, eventually being approached by an auto manufacturer. They had an offer: drive across the United States in one of their cars, to show that they were so easy to operate, “even a lady could do it”. Alice agreed, bringing three friends along for the nearly-4000 mile journey. Using mostly-unpaved roads and pathways in a vehicle lacking all modern convenience, the four girls rattled from New York to San Francisco over the course of two months, learning how to solve problems, whether storms, and rely on each other to keep the little car going.

Interesting! Alice’s story is certainly one I wasn’t aware of and, despite it’s mildly sexist impetus, was a pretty exciting tale of female fortitude, ingenuity, and friendship. Each spread gives an account of challenges the four ladies faced along the way, from broken or overheated parts, flooded rivers, bedbug-ridden hotels, and escaped criminals, making the reader feel like they are right beside the women on their exciting journey. Alice herself is portrayed as level-headed and no-nonsense, and she makes for a strong central figure. The folk-art style illustrations capture the scenic drive from city to mountains to redwoods forests beautifully, though the human characters occasionally sport unusual features or facial expressions. The length would be best for elementary-aged bookworms, but JJ enjoyed the ride. A warm and enjoyable girl-power tale, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure (Eva Chen)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure, written by Eva Chen and illustrated by Derek Desierto, second in the pair’s series of girl-power fashion fantasies.

Picking up where Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes left off, we meet precocious fashionista Juno. In school, she learns that the next day will be picture day, and her teacher advises the class to wear something that makes them feel magical. But while her classmates all have special outfits in mind, Juno isn’t sure. Her friends and family have ideas, but none of them feel right. But when little brother Finn takes off into her closet – and disappears down the magical portal hidden there from the last book – Juno will have to race off to retrieve him. Along the way, she’ll meet fabulous feminist icons like Maya Lin and Josephine Baker, and listen to their advice for both catching Finn and solving her fashion conundrum. But can Juno make it back in time for picture day… and what will she wear?!

Delightful. While the premise is a little far out – and a little more exposition may have been helpful for readers who haven’t read the first book in the series – the tone and message of the book are both wonderful: fashion should make you feel your best, no matter what it looks like. Juno ends up with a mismatched outfit of Grace O’Malley’s pirate hat (“It’ll give you gumption!”), Grace Jones’ shoulder pads (“They’ll make you feel fierce!”), Michelle Obama’s ICONIC Balenciaga glitter boots (“I’m extra confident in them”), and more. Her parents momentarily balk, but Juno is celebrated for her unique style at school, and for the confidence it gives her. The illustrations, a cartoonish style with mixed-media elements deftly woven in, are charming, and feature real-life heroines of diverse races (though some different body types would also have been nice to see). The length was perfect, and JJ and I enjoyed the adventure. A fun tale for blossoming feminist fashionistas that shows it’s the person wearing the clothes that make an outfit fabulous. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Make Herstory (Giavanna Grein)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Make Herstory, written by Giavanna Grein and illustrated by Stephanie O’Donnell, a book of girl-power affirmations for young readers.

Welcome to the world, girl! It’s full of endless possibilities for you, even if you may have to fight sometimes to achieve them. See, oftentimes you will be told that, as a girl, you can’t – but don’t you believe it. Girls can do anything, from excelling in science and technology, creating beautiful pieces of art and music, being victorious athletes, lifesaving first responders, bold lawyers, or world-changing activists. So don’t be afraid to work hard, raise your voice, and chase your dreams; every girl has the power to make HERstory.

Readers will know that we love a book with a strong feminist message, and this one has decent concept. As the rhyming texts describes the many occupations and areas of expertise that girls can make their mark in – a healthy mix of science, government, the arts, athletics, and more – a single, red-haired young women is shown in one of the roles mentioned on the adjacent page. It’s a good concept, illustrating that each girl has the potential within her to be great in any number of things. However, this limited character focus is unfortunately to the book’s detriment as well: since a sole white character is the focus, the very few women of color depicted in the illustrations are limited to the background, and even then, they are noticeably scarce. Even in crowd scenes, such as the protest march shown both on the cover and within the book, it’s difficult to find a person of color in a sea of white faces. As intersectionality is still very much an issue in the current feminist movement, this lack of diversity is disappointing, especially in such otherwise visually dynamic artwork. The text also reads very well, despite a few rhythmic missteps. The length was fine, and JJ did enjoy being able to explore the various professions. This is a solid effort with a strong message and, despite its fumbles, worth a look for young feminists and their caregivers. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)