Founding Mothers: Remembering the Ladies
By Jan Carr,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fascinating profiles celebrate women of American Revolution.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
Popular media journalist Cokie Roberts has condensed her adult book FOUNDING MOTHERS, a celebration of women's role in the founding of the United States, into a book for young readers. It's in picture-book format, illustrated evocatively by Caldecott Honor winner Diane Goode. The book profiles 10 women who played roles as varied as spy, soldier, First Lady, revolutionary poet, and playwright. Some of the women, such as Martha Washington, may be familiar to young readers. Others might be new -- for instance, Phillis Wheatley, the young slave wrested from Africa as a child who grew up to become a celebrated poet. There are also exciting vignettes about an 18-year-old who carried secret messages on horseback, and another who fought as a soldier, dressed as a man. There's rich information about both the role of women and the historical period in general.
Is It Any Good?
Founding Mothers is a welcome corrective to history, putting both a human and female face on the American Revolution. The prose is accessible, often conversational. The illustration evokes the time, using watercolor, sepia, and antique pens and inkwells. Teachers will love the book for the classroom. Parents may be glad to have a book of nonfiction that celebrates the role of girls and women in the early history of America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why history books have overlooked these women and the role played by women in general. Why do you think that happened? What's different now about what women can do?
What roles appeal to you? Are any surprising? Inspiring? Which women profiled are your favorites? Why?
The thorny issue of slavery is threaded through Founding Mothers, as it was in the life of the time. What information can you find about slavery in the text? Is any of it surprising? Uncomfortable?
Book Details
- Author: Cokie Roberts
- Illustrator: Diane Goode
- Genre: History
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models, History, Holidays
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: January 28, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 12
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: February 10, 2020
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