Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women

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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women was created by a team of writers and illustrators pulled together by Rebel Girls, Inc. In the tradition of its popular Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls books 1, 2, and 3, this collection of short biographies is intended to inspire girls to greatness, though readers of any gender will find much to admire in this collection. From Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman to history-making heads of state like Jacinda Ardern to entertainers (Oprah) and activists (Malala Yousafzai), readers will see that there are many paths to becoming a powerful leader. Violence includes non-graphic, age-appropriate descriptions or references to a shooting, political violence, abuse and trauma. No language concerns.
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What's the Story?
Each two-page spread in REBEL GIRLS LEAD features a one-page biography and an artist's illustrated portrait of a powerful woman leader. With just 25 women showcased, this is a slim volume compared with other Good Night Stories books. This collection includes some reader favorites from the previous three volumes as well as 11 new tales of remarkable female leadership, including political leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris and Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller, as well as singer-activist Lady Gaga and Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee. Back pages invite readers to write their own story and draw a self-portrait; there's also a leadership style quiz and leadership training activities.
Is It Any Good?
This compelling addition to the Rebel Girls series diverges from the format of the previous books, all of which feature 100 women. By choosing to focus on just 25 women in Rebel Girls Lead, the creators have made a paperback book that's accessible and affordable for more families. Though the thicker, heftier, and more expensive Good Night Stories books are all wonderful, this new book can function as an introduction for readers new to the Rebel Girls series. Longtime fans, though, may be disappointed that only 11 of the 25 bios and portraits are new, while the others are culled from previous editions. Still, the winning formula of inspiring life story plus a bold, expressive portrait, shines just as brightly here in this slim volume as it does in the longer collections.
These bite-size profiles can help young readers imagine themselves growing up to do great things and be great people, and that's a good reason to gift this book to any kid who has yet to delve in to the Rebel Girls universe.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the women they most admired in Rebel Girls Lead. Who stood out to you the most? Why? What can you learn from these women?
What character strengths did these women show? How do they show compassion, perseverance, courage, and more?
Each illustrated portrait was created by a different woman artist. How are the illustrations similar and different? Why do you think the book's creators asked women artists to illustrate these biographies?
Book Details
- Author: Rebel Girls
- Genre: Biography
- Topics: Activism, STEM, Sports and Martial Arts, Arts and Dance, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: UNKNO
- Publication date: January 26, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 9
- Number of pages: 64
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: March 1, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love biographies and extraordinary women and girls
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