One of the greatest challenges of serving as a Round One panelist for Cybils Awards is that there are SO MANY terrific titles with SO FEW slots available to list as finalists. Balancing that struggle is the blessing of being able to read quite a few wonderful titles that I somehow missed in the course of the publishing year. As public bloggers/reviewers, we panelists have the lovely bonus of using our platforms to feature and celebrate favorite titles whether they made the finalist cut or not, and without a deadline! This post is the first of several that will offer you short features about some I especially enjoyed, and believe you will, too. This post focuses on picture books that are biographies or profiles of women, ones you may or may not already THINK you know.
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| Little Bigfoot, 2022 |
First up is LIBRARY GIRL:How Nancy Pearl Became America's Most Celebrated Librarian, written by Karen Henry Clark and illustrated by Sheryl Murray. Here's what I had to say about it on my Goodreads account.
"Adults who read (sadly, some don't) will certainly recognize the name of Nancy Pearl, perhaps the best known librarian in America. This is a genuinely touching account of how her early years were somewhat unhappy, how she came to feel at home and supported within her library. It is effective and interesting to be able to imagine her as a tentative and "out of place" child who grew to not only find a career, but find herself and her confidence within that career!"
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| Clarion Books, 2022 |
"Crisp and entertaining text combine with illustrator Martinez-Neal's trademark fluidity and grace to develop a portrait of a determined, creative, talented woman who never forgot her father's message- to make the world a better place for others. Her tools were her scissors, sewing machine, fabrics and ribbons, all used in service of making women of any size or shape feel wonderful in their clothing.
Who knew that the iconic "Lane Bryant" clothing line had such an inspiring background? I certainly didn't, and I am grateful to have learned it in such an appealing format. I look forward to sharing this with readers of many ages, including older ones who envision a career in design.
Lena's father's advice will serve them well in their careers."
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| Beachlane Books, 2022 |
And here's another title that provides an introduction to a young woman whose decisions and life choices merit our attention, It is also a story with "hooks" related to sports, fashion, gender restrictions, overcoming disabling health challenges, and more. Here are my Goodreads comments on ANNETTE FEELS FREE: The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life Mermaid, written/illustrated by Katie Mazieka.
"This seemingly simple picture book bio of a record-breaking female swimmer from Australia is far more than that. Australia's Annette Kellerman lived her youngest years as a lively, exuberant girl whose love of ballet and performance led to dreams of a stage life. When an unknown paralyzing infection left her with weakened legs and wearing braces that imprisoned her dreams, her spirit faded. Her father's brilliant idea to help her learn to swim restored Annette's freedom, leading eventually to a fully restored body and dreams she could never have imagined, with a watery stage on which to express herself and gain the acclaim she welcomed.
I tagged this as a story in a story because her life was notable, too, (as the subtitle indicates) for breaking gender barriers beyond the athletic world. The fact that multiple heavy layers of clothing were demanded for women swimmers, (even in competition against MEN!), chafed at Annette's sense of justice and equity. She designed and created a modest, swimmable garment, but one that shocked society of that time. It took a ruling by the courts to allow her to wear it in competitions and later in general when swimming, but requirements were placed that she must be covered/robed on land, not dropping her coverings until stepping into the water. Her fashion pioneering led to other girls and women adopting the style and all eventually ignoring the demands for 'land" coverings.
Readers will find joy, persistence, imagination, unbounded goal-setting, emotional arcs, and family strengths in this beautifully illustrated new picture book.
I highly recommend all three titles, and assure readers of any age that they will learn fascinating information about women with whom they may or may not have been acquainted before cracking the covers of these terrific picture books. Dive in, folks, and share them with others.
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