March 31, but You Haven't Heard the Last of Women in History

 On these final two days of March I am reviewing nonfiction picture books about women in history- in the ARTS! Louise Borgeois was the subject of a post about rebel artists in the twentieth century in THIS POST, and AMY CHENEY BEACH is the subject of the picture book reviewed below. They are distinctly different books in writing and illustrations styles, even in intended audiences and purposes, and yet they are similar in an important way. Both celebrate women whose lives extended across many decades of unique and brilliant creativity and excellence in artistic fields. Certainly those who study visual art are highly informed about the art and impact of Bourgeois, and those who study classical music composition know the works of Amy Cheney Beach. Even so, neither is well known (if known at all) by the general public. WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH ebbs away with ongoing attention to famous women leaders, often in fields of science, technology,  mathematics, etc. Artistic leaders of their time matter as much or more to history and culture.. Please share their picture books and other resources all year long.

Calkins Creek, 2023
Astra Publishing

PITCH PERFECT AND PERSISTENT: The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach is written by Caitlin DeLems and illustrated by Alison Jay. What do you call a one-year-old girl who hums, perfectly and on pitch, forty-four different familiar tunes? A two-year-old who confidently sings out an anthem from start to finish, every word accurate, every note on pitch?

A child who identifies notes and chords by color and emotion?

Most would call her a prodigy, a phenom, at least a  gifted child who should be nurtured and allowed to create.

Not Amy's mother.

Mrs. Cheney was a music teacher who's piano playing was the source of Amy's repertoire, but the family's strong religious beliefs required that no one, especially children, should call attention to themselves. Despite the safe and simple life depicted on the page, despite a sense that the mother's denial of access to a keyboard was from loving concern, despite illustrations with rounded figures and soft edges and tones, despite a charming rustic setting, my heart ached for Amy. Those soothing elements do allow readers to recognize that rules and restrictions of a social/cultural preset can be stifling, but are pointless against a child with a singing heart and soaring spirit. A double-page spread makes it clear how childlike and self-directed Amy was, with nursery rhyme characters dancing across musical bars that suggest the alternative melodies she imagined for those familiar tunes, swirling through her mind and voice like the swallows who dip and flow across the skies.

This deeply and thoroughly researched biography unfolds in chronological order but ascends and dips across Amy's life, revealing opportunities and accolades followed by denials and departures imposed by family and conventions. Eventually a compromise within marriage to an older man allows her a range of activity through which she can pursue her deepest love- musical composition.

The groundbreaking, startling devotion of her life, and source of her ultimate acclaim, was classical composition. That talent, skill, and art is challenging in any time or situation, but it was unheard of for a WOMAN to compose serious music. Amy's work, in fact, developed fully orchestrated symphonies and beyond. After her husband died she was left independent with the means to travel and control her own life. Her immeasurable talent expanded even further, including  travel, performances, and appearances, leading to world renown within the realm of music. 

I found Amy to be as compelling to read about as she was compelled to produce and create music. That's saying a lot. Back matter in these nonfiction picture book biographies is often impressive and informative. This is no exception, but is every bit as impressive in the author's acknowledgement of the many experts who advised or otherwise assured that this seemingly simple picture book rises to a level of scholarly resource, from the main text and from the bibliography provided.

The ability for anyone, but especially for girls and women, to develop and sustain a vision of themselves, their inner resources, and their unique perspectives beyond the moats and gates and walls of cultural norms is necessary and requires intentional effort. Books like this one,  and this one, elevate "out of the box" thinking and self-determination beyond role models to beacons of hope and guiding lights.

LOUISE BOURGEOIS Made Giant Spiders and Wasn't Sorry

Here we are at the end of another "THEME MONTH": WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. My ongoing concern (rant?) about Theme Months is that the topics merit attention ALL YEAR LONG, year after year. Dedicating a month is worthy but risks ignoring the topic for eleven months of the year.

I also worry that the subjects dealt with often focus on familiar figures rather than using the theme to explore and expand lesser known or even untold stories. I began this month with reviews of two such women. If you missed that post, please click on the link and learn more about the inventor of dishwashers and a mathematician whose work made widespread electrification infrastructure possible (and safe).  Throughout the month I've included some "themed" posts and many that were far afield of the theme, because I intend to continue showcasing outstanding books about women throughout the year. 

Yet here we are with two days left in this month dedicated to sharing Women's History.  I will bookend my March posts with this review and one tomorrow, each of which astounded and informed me about women leaders in their fields who were entirely new to me.

Phaidon, 2023

LOUISE BOURGEOIS Made Giant Spiders and Wasn't Sorry is the latest in a series of picture books about groundbreaking artists by Fausto Gilberti. This title is one of Gilbert's series MY FIRST REBEL ARTIST picture books, from Phaidon For Kids. I reviewed some earlier titles HERE, HERE, and HERE. These share the title lines ...and Wasn't Sorry. For anyone who has drawn outside the lines, intentionally, for those who have looked at familiar things in new ways, and (perhaps especially) those who have never imagined such a rebel approach was possible, these books are as important as they are appealing.

In each earlier case I had been familiar with the artists and their works before reading. In the case of Bourgeois and her giant spiders, I knew of her massive but fragile-looking sculptures but not about much of her other body of work. I had never investigated the artist.                

Louise Bourgeois was born into a talented and loving family, in a rural setting filled with animals who seemed like people to Louise. She was NOT afraid of spiders. These illustrations portray her using stark black-line, silhouette-style images on white background. This allows readers to see her as  a very "spidery" girl, quite literally on one spread. Facts about the way her mother affectionately tickled her head (as if with little spider-leg fingers) and wove/repaired priceless tapestries with uncanny talent made me think this factual tale could inspire a magical one in which a spider is turned to a human and spawns a girl-child who lives in pursuit of finding her true identity. 

And yet this book and the others in the series are firmly anchored in factual content, revealed in both text and images that spin webs of fascination and fondness. Louise's early and ongoing trademark in creating visual art featured two- and three-dimensional pieces that exaggerated/distorted/reoriented reality. She experienced some attention throughout her life, but now her works are treasured among museums across the globe. Even so, at the grand age of 87 she chose to sculpt a spider. An enormous construction of metal and marble that stood many stories tall. A first creation of its kind with the suitable title of MAMAN (French for mother). This, the largest of her many spider sculptures, was duplicated in bronze six times. Those extraordinary spiders demand an outdoor space, and they stand outside the entryways of major art museums.                                        

Louise pursued the artistry of her parents at an early age, learning their techniques, adapting and exploring new applications, and continuing to innovate until the end of her life. In the last years of her work, Louise created woven art out of old clothing and linens. Her success did not arrive early, but her imagination and creativity led to objects and art that astound, producing an impressive body of work that eventually gained attention in sold-out exhibitions. 

The books in this series are a tribute to the artistry and design skills of the author/illustrator, Gilberti. From cover to cover, from end pages to interiors, each incorporates examples of the featured artists best known and some lesser known works, but also reveals the human stories and relationships that had inspired (or created mysteries about) their iconic works. Older readers will find mentor text and intriguing details within the text and back matter, while even youngest audiences will thrill at spotting the tiny (and not so tiny) appearances of spiders throughout the pages. Each of the titles in this series sparks an impulse to "try that", to put hands onto media nd see what might emerge. 

Just as other well-known and hidden figures in women's history are likely to encourage investigation into studies and careers in fields typically controlled/dominated by males, this woman in (art) history deserves our attention during March and throughout the year. And that sentence is intended for adult readers, too!  

MARY SHERMAN MORGAN: An Inspiring but Overlooked Woman of Science

Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers
2021

We're already three days into our current "THEME MONTH", Women in History.

BLAST OFF! How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America into Space is written by Chicago area author Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. When it comes to women in history whose stories are underreported, particularly those in science, Mary Morgan takes the cake. 

 Born in 1921, one year after women were legally allowed to vote, she was eight years old before the truant officer forced her family to let her go to school.  On a family farm, chores were not subject to a vote and even though she had to work overtime on studies to catch up for her late start, Mary completed her chores. Somehow, she found time to read, and read she did! 

 

By high school she proved herself to be a superior student, one who realized that chemistry was endlessly fascinating. Since her parents expected her to continue living at home and helping with chores, she worked multiple jobs, studied, saved, and applied for scholarships t go off to college. Her first two years of study gave her a good foundation, but her money had run out and she needed to stop school to work. At that time businesses hired women to do the work of men who had gone off to fight in the war, and Mary learned while earning money in an explosives factory making munitions for the war effort.

 

A few years later those men were back to compete for the job she wanted, and the boss at her dream company had 900 employees working on chemical fuels- all men! Mary made her case for being fully qualified, that man gave her a chance, and she was off to learn and develop advanced fuels and chemical combinations. I loved reading that her trusty sliderule was always on hand, her formulas were precise, and she double-checked every calculation. I celebrate her ability to VERIFY and CONFIRM computations, especially for a generation of readers who turn to handheld devices for math calculations, 

 

That proficiency and accuracy made her the lead scientist in a secret project to develop rocket fuel that could launch America’s first satellite. The pages detailing her thinking, experiments, failures and ultimate success are action-packed and compelling. Her determination was fueled by her fear that too many failures or false starts might make the public want to abandon space travel as too expensive. So she never gave up, and she led her teams to a successful launch, on schedule, with a promise that many more space adventures would follow. Back matter includes a timeline and extended details that provide curious readers with more about Mary’s life, American space programs, the Explorer 1 and Juno 1 rockets, and further readings. 

 

Mary Sherman Morgan was a woman who saw and pursued the potential within her and the potential beyond what she already knew. Her faith in science, in math, and in the uncharted opportunities of space should have been dramatized in film and books long before this, but it was worth the wait to read about her life and contributions now. Don’t let another day go by without reading her story. 

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM DARED: A Biography Worth the Wait

 Recent years have seen shifts on publishing for children, including picture books. There has been a steady (though not yet strong enough) shift to stories of people from non-dominant American culture (AKA, White, mainstream, traditional). Among those, many are shining lights on powerful but rarely told stories. They are both overdue and appreciated. Some, though, are offering accessible and inspiring profiles of folks who were quite prominent during their lives, although their stories seldom landed in picture books. Too often, the reasons given for that suggested that the "market" for the stories was too narrow and sales would be minimal.

Baloney!

Anne Schwartz Books, 2021

Many outstanding leaders from the past are getting new coverage. Better late than never, I say. 

In this case, this picture book biography of Shirley Chisholm is seriously overdue, but the eventual product is well worth the wait. SHIRLEY CHISHOLM DARED: The Story of the First Black Congresswoman is written by Alicia D. Williams and illustrated by April Harrison. This is not the first picture book about Chisholm, but it is delightfully  personal and powerful and  kid-friendly. 

Opening in her brief early days in New York City, we quickly follow little Shirely to an extended stay with her maternal grandmother in Barbados. The recurring  descriptors Williams uses become evident immediately:

Daring. Rebellious. Persistent. Troublemaker.

That should catch your attention, right? The selected examples of these traits, in text and images, allow readers to smile along, sit a bit taller, and develop their admiration for this  little-girl-eventual-congresswoman.She saw herself as having a voice and a place and a role in her community and in the world at large. The sideways glances to outright objections of others made no difference to her. It's not surprising (and is very well presented on the page) that her youthful peers, authority figures, adult peers, and competitors for office were sometimes stunned by her intentions and actions and expressed that opinion openly. 

I can't help but imagine her thinking that the surest way to get her to accomplish something was to tell her she shouldn't. Or couldn't.

Shirley was a champion for justice, using her voice and platform on behalf of everyday people and the country she loved. Her voice still rings in my memory. If it is unknown to you, click this YOU TUBE link to learn more about her story, and hear that amazing voice. It is an eighteen minute segment, but if you don't have enough time, scroll through to find her speaking. In fact, I hope you will watch it all. 

This is very welcome picture book biography that will continue to share her legacy with young readers long into the future.

Laurie Wallmark's WOMEN IN STEM: A Giveaway! (Giveaway has ended.)

Hold on to your hats, readers. This post features WOMEN IN STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics), a series of picture book biographies that will blow you away. I've linked each of my brief comments below to more thorough reviews on my Goodreads account about individual titles. Author Laurie Wallmark has introduced readers to each of her "subjects" as fully formed individual girls/women whose lives and accomplishments pop off the page. Each book also provides back matter that is head and shoulders above routine documentation to appeal and inform in its own right. 

ADA LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE (Laurie Wallmark, April Chu. Creston Books, 2015

From my review:

There is so much to enjoy in this biography that spans, literally, cradle to grave and centuries beyond. Modern young readers will be inspired by her brilliant insights and accomplishments despite the limits of technology during her lifetime. Even though hers was a privileged and elegant life, Ada overcame struggles that will resonate with many (an absent father, several years of disability due to measles). 

HEDY LAMARR'S DOUBLE LIFE: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor (Laurie Wallmark, Katy Wu. Sterling CHildren's Books 2019)

From my review:

Characteristically deep research marks Hedy's life story, developed in appealing narrative with brief revelations about her childhood curiosity in Vienna, patented inventions, and on to her fame as a Hollywood star. She and friend George Antheil invested countless hours of secret effort in developing specialized equipment that allowed naval signals to evade detection during World War II. Their contributions to saving lives and winning the war remained top secret for many years and are still used today. 

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (Laurie Wallmark, Katy Wu, Sterling Children's Books. 2017)

From my review:

I was eager to read more about Hopper, and this deeply researched account is filled with "grace" and humor. I vividly recall watching an evening news tribute to Grace Hopper on the occasion of her SECOND retirement from the US Navy at the age of eighty. That news profile recounted her transformational role in computer coding, in war service, and in top secret programming to save lives and defend our nation. During that short news segment this tiny, wiry woman looked as if she could still take on anything that a war or computer or even a "bug" could send her way.

After reading this biography I feel as if I had an opportunity to meet Grace, and I'm eager to introduce her to kids everywhere, especially to girls..

In case you missed it, take a look at my earlier review of Laurie's most recent release in this series, NUMBERS IN MOTION: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics.  

I celebrate women in math, science, engineering, and technology, including Laurie Wallmark. As a writer and reader, I appreciate the challenges she must have encountered and then surpassed in creating each of these books. Each is a portal to the past while bringing forward these accomplished and inspiring women to gain present day admiration.

I honor all women who recognize their capacity as agents of growth, knowledge, and change in a world, in the past and present. From Ada to Sophie to Hedy to Grace, women have demonstrated their ability to learn and lead and leverage their too-limited status to arrive at the top of their fields. Although limitations for girls and women have "eased" over time, the playing field is by no means level. It's ironic, and unjust, that digital media has too often become a tool for actively generating bias and resistance to girls and women in STEM fields.

To mark this celebration, I'm giving  away a signed copy of NUMBERS IN MOTION to encourage everyone to share these books with ALL kids, helping both genders of the next generation to seek and welcome others into careers in STEM. Deadline is midnight Sunday, January 24, Central time.

One chance to win will be added for each of the following, as many as you choose:

• Comment below on one (or more) of the titles reviewed here. 
• Comment below about how you shared this post on social media (Twitter, FB, Instagram) 
• Comment on your own attitude about math, good or bad. I promise not to scold!
• Ask Laurie a question. I hope to interview her about her upcoming March release, and may be able to include your question!)
• Clicked through to explore Laurie's website (click on WOMEN IN STEM in the top line) and comment on something you learned there.

Good luck!