Parents' Guide to Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Book 1

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Common Sense Media Review

Regan McMahon By Regan McMahon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Inspiring, kid-friendly tales of extraordinary women.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 7+

Based on 7 parent reviews

age 8+

Based on 9 kid reviews

Kids say the book features inspiring stories of powerful women, making it a great educational choice for children aged 6-14, though some readers believe it emphasizes the lives of these women over what children can achieve themselves. While many find the book engaging and suitable for various ages, there are mixed opinions on including themes related to gender identity and whether they are appropriate for young readers.

  • inspiring stories
  • educational choice
  • mixed opinions
  • age suitability
  • themes of empowerment
Summarized with AI

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?

Our review:
Parents say ( 7 ):
Kids say ( 9 ):

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

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

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