‘More than that of a bedtime book, more than that of a story-time book, even more than that of just a non-fiction or information book; this is an anytime-of-the-day book… that succeeds yet again in capturing not only the imagination but also the inspiration of a generation!’
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Title: Fantastically Great Women Who Made History
Author: Kate Pankhurst (@KateisDrawing)
Illustrator (Cover): Kate Pankhurst (@KateisDrawing)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Kids (@KidsBloomsbury)
Page count: 32
Date of publication: 8th February 2018
Series status: N/A
ISBN: 978-1408878903
Perfect for Year 1 & Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4 and Year 5 & Year 6.
#3Words3Emojis:
1. Life-affirming 👍
2. Aspirational 💭
3. Fantastical 😊
Fantastically Great Women Who Made History is a celebration of extraordinary women from around the world and how their remarkable lives marched them into our history books.
Blast into space with astronaut Valentina Tereshkova, become a mighty Egyptian pharaoh with the powerful Hatshepsut and make your voice heard with mother and daughter duo, women’s rights champion Mary Wollstonecraft and Frankenstein’s creator Mary Shelley.
Illustrated and written by the wonderfully talented Kate Pankhurst, this is the perfect introduction to just a few of the extraordinary women who have made their mark on history.
How will YOU make history?
Review: Today marks International Women’s Day 2018, so I couldn’t think of a more timely day and occasion to post this review of Fantastically Great Women Who Made History, which returns triumphantly as part of the Fantastically Great Women series. I’m absolutely delighted that this hugely-successful series – written by the supremely talented Kate Pankhurst – is back especially after the success of its first, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World which became the number one best-selling children’s non-fiction title in the UK market in 2017. Like its predecessor, this one again stands itself in high acclaim and continues to come highly recommended.
Journey through history as we are introduced to many more truly wonderful women in the form of:
- Ada Lovelace, mathematical mastermind and early computer programming prodigy who created patterns known as algorithms which have recently been added as a key skill to be taught to children on the curriculum.
- Boudicca, warrior queen of the Iceni tribe who ruled alone and battled hard against the might of the Romans who initially underestimated her power.
- Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman ever to be awarded a degree in medicine.
- Flora Drummond, one of a group of prominent suffragettes whose efforts lead women towards the equality they deserved by gaining the right to vote for some women in 1918.
- Harriet Tubman, a runaway slave who decided that enough was enough and searched for her freedom.
- Hatshepsut, who became one of the most successful pharaohs of Ancient Egypt reigning for 20 years by being a strong leader especially in times of threat and danger.
- Josephine Baker, a teenager-turned-superstar that wowed audiences in theatre performances across the world, was given a leading role in one of the first shows with an all-black cast to be shown on Broadway who settled in Paris, a city that allowed her to be herself.
- Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley, the mother-and-daughter duo whose famous writing and books such as Vindications of the Rights of Women and Frankenstein initially shocked and scared people at the time but which is still read today and now regarded as classic literature, over two centuries later.
- Qiu Jin, a knowledgeable and fearless lady who travelled across to Japan at a young age to gain more respect than she was receiving in China at the time, but who came back to rebel against the government and the dynasty and who revolutionised equality and rights for women within the country.
- Noor Inayat Khan, the first female wireless operator to be sent into Nazi-occupied France during World War Two and awarded with the highest honour for bravery – the George Medal for her efforts.
- Pocahontas, the daughter of the chief of a Native American tribe, often more known through the Disney films, who tried to embrace and bring together the two sides of colonisation by growing the understanding that all people, no matter their culture, deserve respect and kindness.
- Sayyida-al-Hurra, a pirate queen who ruled the seas around Morocco, after emigrating there from the kingdom of Granada, and fought back against her enemies, the very same people that forced her from her own country.
- Valentina Tereshkova, whose ambitions carried her all the way to a different dimension as she became the first woman astronaut in space.
Kate really does all of these incredible women justice in this book and frankly they all deserve a place here but my own personal favourites include Ada Lovelace, Noor Inayat Khan and Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, most recently voted as the winning woman in a National Book Tokens poll to find out the public’s favourite female who changed history.
This book should not just solely be treated as an excellent introduction to the lives, the adventures and the accomplishments of these women but also, a celebration to tell of these trailblazers who were ahead of their time; to highlight the heroics of these heroines; and to champion them as catalysts of change who pushed boundaries, shifted perceptions and transformed life as we now know it in all their rightful and resplendently-drawn glory.
This range of creative geniuses, great thinkers and pivotal pioneers have certainly left their legacy on society, history and life in more ways than one. At the time, however, whilst being a leading lady eventually resulted in success; it also meant that they too had their own personal hardships that they had to overcome. Much adversity stood in their way such as daring to fight stereotypes and tradition against gender inequality, racism and sexism to suffering segregation, poverty, persecution and rejection. These women truly demonstrated characteristics of steely grit, drive and determination, inner strength, resilience and self-confidence in their abilities in order to have their presence even merely acknowledged, their opinions heard and to break down the barriers put before and the glass ceilings put above them. This is why it is important that not only the successes, but the backgrounds of these remarkable role models need to be shared with all.
This would be a perfect read to share and discuss in the classroom and at home to complement a whole range of subjects and topics within the curriculum. It could also be used for help with homework, for research leading to further learning opportunities but above all, for enjoyment and reading for pleasure because it is more than that of a bedtime book, more than that of a story-time book, even more than that of a non-fiction or information book; this is an anytime-of-the-day book that should be pored over by child, pupil, parent, grandparent, teacher and any reader alike. I think reading and sharing this book together would be an equally valuable learning experience for all.
To have a book with such an-all encompassing, wide scope of age and appeal is only tantamount to its superb quality in delivering its informational content in a wholly accessible, encouraging, and child and adult-friendly format. With its factually-fantastic double-page spreads featuring just the right combination of information with Kate’s original and characteristically distinctive illustrations that visually complement one another, it really is a historical, social, cultural, literary, scientific, geographical, mathematical and early technological lesson all rolled in to one.
Coupled with Kate’s initial offering, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, these books together would make incredibly worthy additions to every class, school, home and library bookshelf as they could indeed change the world and make history themselves through their potentially long-lasting impact on this generation and the next.
So as a teacher or parent, ask yourself this: how will the children in your class or home go on to make history?
Well after reading this, you can be guaranteed to have a class-full or home-full of budding history-makers and visionaries aspiring to want to follow in the footsteps and discover more about these fantastically great women. What more could you want…?
‘More than that of a bedtime book, more than that of a story-time book, even more than that of just a non-fiction or information book; this is an anytime-of-the-day book… that succeeds yet again in capturing not only the imagination but also the inspiration of a generation!’
Thank you to Lizz Skelly at Bloomsbury Kids for sending me a review copy of this marvellous book!
Fantastically Great Women Who Made History is available to order online or from any good bookshop.
Mr E
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