Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Book 1
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a collection of 100 one-page stories about women throughout history who broke barriers and achieved great things. Some are well known (at least to parents) and well chronicled, including Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, Jane Goodall, Joan Jett, and Jane Austen. And some are lesser known (at least in America), such as Matilde Montoya, Mexico's first female doctor, and Sonita Alizadeh, a 20-year-old rapper from Afghanistan who refused to be sold into marriage and whose song "Brides for Sale" went viral on YouTube. One story features a transgender American girl who broke barriers at her elementary school. The brief biographical sketches spotlight a telling anecdote about each woman or girl told in simple language, generally in four to six paragraphs in a relatively large font size, making them highly readable. Facing each page is a quote from the featured person and a stylized color portrait by one of 60 contributing female artists from around the world. A spread at the back invites readers to "Write Your Own Story" and "Draw Your Own Portrait."
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What's the story?
GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS offers brief biographical sketches and selected anecdotes of about 100 women and girls who broke gender barriers and accomplished extraordinary things with their talent, genius, vision, and drive. Arranged in alphabetical order by first name, they're told as inviting, entertaining stories, many beginning with "Once upon a time ... " or "Once there was a girl who ... ." Also, they highlight a dazzling array of fields, including science, medicine, literature, the arts, sports, politics, fashion, politics, the military, and more from a variety of countries, including a 16th-century pirate from Ireland, a 20th-century Formula One race car driver fom Italy, a 19th-century spy from Colombia, and many queens and warriors. Sixty artists from around the world contributed the colorful portraits that accompany each story.
Is it any good?
This lively collection of stories about pioneering women and girls is sure to inspire and entertain both kids and adults. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls encourages kids to think big, follow their dreams, never give up, and never listen to anyone who says you can't achieve something because you're female. It's great as a read-aloud for boys and girls or independent reading for older kids and offers a wonderful introduction to the many possible career paths open to all.
A sobering message in the preface reminds readers how much these extraordinary women struggled for recognition and respect: "No matter the importance of their discoveries, the audacity of their adventures, the width of their genius -- they were constantly belittled, forgotten, in some cases erased from history. It is important that girls understand the obstacles that lie in front of them. It is just as important that they know these obstacles are not insurmountable."
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the different women in Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Which stories do you like best? Why? How many of the women had you heard of before?
What kinds of obstacles did these women face as they pursued their dreams? What do you think you'd have done in their position?
Why are the girls and women in this book considered rebels? Do you consider yourself a "rebel girl"? Do girls still face barriers as they try to achieve great things?
Book details
- Authors: Elena Favilli, Francesca Cavallo
- Genre: Biography
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures, Arts and Dance, Great Girl Role Models, Misfits and Underdogs, Science and Nature
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Timbuktu Labs, Inc.
- Publication date: December 10, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 12, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love history and biographies
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