Interview with Melanie Crowder, author of Audacity (Philomel, 2015)

March 30 - Today's post contributed by Margo Tanenbaum

Radical Jewish women rabble-rousers are getting their due in young people's books in the past few years. After being featured in the 2013 picture book Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, labor leader Clara Lemlich is now the subject of author Melanie Crowder's recently published YA novel-in-verse, Audacity.  Clara Lemlich (1886-1982), a Russian-born Jewish immigrant who came to New York at the age of 19 and almost immediately began working in the Lower East Side's garment sweatshops, is best known for sparking the Uprising of 20,000, a huge strike of shirtwaist workers in 1909 and the largest strike in U.S. history up to that time.  

Crowder's terrific novel is a must read for all young people who hope to change the world. Although Audacity deals only with Lemlich's early years, Lemlich continued to advocate for the downtrodden throughout her life; in her last years in a nursing home she even organized the orderlies. She is the embodiment of "tikkun olam", a Jewish phrase meaning "repairing the world," which has become synonymous with humanity's obligation to pursue social justice.

Clara Lemlich, 1910

Q) What inspired you to write a novel about Clara Lemlich?

A) Clara is one of those people who is only given a single line in history books. Her story is so extraordinary, though—I am in awe of her bravery and her strength and the unflagging fight inside her. When I began digging deeper into her history and her origins, I knew I had to share her story with young readers.

Really, I wanted more than just a single line for Clara, and I wanted readers to know more of her as well.

Q) If you could have met Clara Lemlich in person, what would you have liked to ask her?

A) Wow—great question!

I would love to hear Clara talk about the proudest moments in her life. I’m guessing that day at Cooper Union [when she gave the fiery speech that inspired the Uprising of 20,000] would be up there, but I think I would also hear about her family. She lived a full life. She was an activist her entire life. I would love to just sit and listen to her recall the moments when life gave her moments of joy in return for all she gave to us.

Q) Do you see Clara Lemlich as a role model for today's young women?  and what social causes do you think she would be involved in today?

A) Absolutely! There is so much about her experience that resonates with young people today: the immigrant story, the importance of education, her legacy as an activist, the evidence that an individual really can make a difference. I think she is an inspiration and a role model for us all—young and old, male and female.

If I had to guess, I’d say Clara would still, to this day, be fighting for workers’ rights. I think she would be very interested in the fair trade movement, and in the struggle in this country for pay equity between genders.

Q)  Can you comment on how Clara Lemlich might have seen the ongoing struggle for rights for garment workers around the world? In many ways, nothing seems to have changed from the time of the Triangle Fire, except that the worst sweatshops have moved overseas.

A) It wasn’t in Clara to be defeated, but I think she would have been really discouraged by the current state of the garment industry. I know she would have been devastated by the factory collapse in Bangladesh. Clara was an excellent public speaker and I believe she would be out there today, lobbying politicians and working to educate consumers about the origins of their clothing and the social cost of cheap labor.

Q) Why did you choose to tell Clara's story in free verse?

A) You know, I started telling her story in prose and I didn’t get very far. It just didn’t work. It felt flat—not quite enough to capture the intensity and tenacity with which she approached life. When I began experimenting in free verse, I found what I was looking for—a form that amplified the emotion, the struggle, and the triumphs of her journey.

Q) Can you tell us what books you are currently reading? Do you read a lot of YA fiction, or a variety of genres?

A) I do read a lot of YA and Middle Grade fiction—there are so many excellent books out there! Add to that the academic nonfiction I read in order to research my stories and my TBR pile never seems to diminish! A sampling from my nightstand at the moment:

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Race, Gender and Punishment by Mary Bosworth and Jeanne Flavin

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Melanie, thanks so much for this interview and for participating in Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month.

Melanie Crowder received many honors for her debut novel, Parched, including Bank Street’s Best Books of the Year, a Junior Library Guild selection, a Silver Medal in the Parents’ Choice Awards, and a starred review from the Bulletin. Her second book, Audacity, has received three starred reviews and is an Editor’s Choice at BookBrowse and a Top Pick from BookPage. Her third novel, A Nearer Moon, releases September 8 from Atheneum Books / S&S. The author holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she isn’t writing, Melanie can be found teaching, reading, daydreaming or exploring the beautiful state of Colorado where she lives with her family.

Woman Who Faced Amazing Challenges & Succeeded

March 29 - Today's post contributed by Alyson Beecher

Woman Who Faced Amazing Challenges & Succeeded

by Alyson Beecher

If you were asked to name a woman in history who made a significant contribution and who also had a disability of some type, who would you name? Most people would probably name Helen Keller. However, I was curious about other women who had made or were making a difference and who also had some form of a disability. So, off to Google I went.

My simple search produced some familiar names and some names that were new to me. Helen Keller was obviously on the list but so was Harriet Tubman, and Frida Kahlo. Each of these women have numerous biographies written about them in both picture book and long-form. The famous photographer, Dorothea Lange is well known for her photography but lesser known for the limp she grew up with as a result of polio when she was a child. Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, has a chapter in a picture book celebrating famous woman and her work with the Cherokee Nation, but did you know she also served in this position while having a rare form of muscular dystrophy? Really, just a chapter in a picture book?

However, I learned about some other woman who had made notable contributions to their communities and countries and yet, little were written about them.  Jhamak Ghimire who has severe cerebral palsy and considered the “Helen Keller of Nepal” has nothing written about her in the United States, except for her own work of poetry. Judy Neumann, and Harilyn Rousso have had significant careers and lives advocating for individuals with disabilities and yet despite their life's work would not be easily recognized by most teachers and children.

After serving on the Schneider Family Book Award Jury (a children’s and young adult book award committee of the American Library Association) for the past few years, I have read a lot of books featuring individuals with special needs. However, in the category for young children, with the exception of books about Helen Keller, there were no books portraying the lives of any of these other amazing woman and the work that they have done while also living with additional challenges. Do we have a book gap? I would certainly say yes.

Though this is not a comprehensive list by any means, I would like to highlight the lives of just a few of the incredible woman who embody the spirit and essence that surrounds Women’s History Month and who are also powerful role models for our young readers who may be empowered to dream beyond their special needs because of these amazing women.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Despite what I had read on Harriet Tubman in the past, it had primarily focused on her leadership and active role in assisting slaves to escape to freedom. Somehow, I had missed the fact that Tubman suffered from epilepsy along with severe headaches and narcolepsy as a result of a head injury she suffered when she was young at the hands of another slave’s overseer.

Frida by Jonah Winter; Illustrated by Ana Juan

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales 

One of the things that have always struck me is how Frida Kahlo was able to utilize her pain and life experiences to produce so many amazing pieces of art. As a child, she contracted polio and was left with a limp, then at 18 she was in a serious bus accident, which left her in chronic pain. Kahlo lived a colorful live with her marriage to artist Diego Rivera and her political activism.

Dorothea Lange by Mike Venezia

As a child, Dorothea Lange contracted polio which left her with a limp due to a weakened right leg and foot. However, she did not let this or later health issues impede her work as a photographer and publisher. It was her goal to use her photography to bring attention to injustices, which she hoped would result in a change of action in people. Her depression era photography of rural hardship became her best known work.

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee; Illustrated by Megan Halsey, Sean Addy 

Photo of Wilma Mankiller taken at the 2001 Cherokee National Holiday. Photo by Phil Konstantin

Wilma Mankiller was a lifetime activist and advocate for the rights of Native Americans and women. In 1985, she became the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation During her term as Principal Chief, she worked to improve health care, education and government for native americans. After a nearly fatal car crash, Mankiller was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy.

Harilyn Rousso

Harilyn Rousso is not only a disability rights activist but also an activist for the rights of women with disabilities. Highly educated, Rousso has utilized her personal experiences, education, and passions to establish a number of organizations to address issues of gender and disability.

Judith Heumann, Photo from U.S. State Department

As a toddler, Judy Heumann developed polio which left her needing to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Heumann has spent her life advocating for the rights of those with disabilities. After college, she fought against New York State in court to be granted the right teach elementary school as an individual in a wheelchair. She later served as the Assistant Secretary of Special Education during the Clinton Administration. Currently, she works as an International Disability Rights Special Advisor advocating human rights legislation for children and adults with special needs.

"Jhamakawarded" by Madan Puraskar org . Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jhamakawarded.jpg#/media/File:Jhamakawarded.jpg

Though Jhamak Ghimire may not be able to speak or use her hands due to cerebral palsy, she has still managed to write poetry and be recognized in her native land of Nepal as an award winning poet.

Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport; Illustrated by Matt Tavares

Of course, I couldn’t leave out Helen Keller. Likely of the most recognized influential women who also happened to have a disability, Keller showed that despite being both blind and deaf that you can learn and you can make a difference.

What strikes me about each of these women is how hard they must have worked. Each one of these women shows us what is possible despite our personal limitations. When I think of the headaches that Harriet Tubman experienced or the chronic pain of Frida Kahlo, I am in awe. Pain is hard and yet, neither of these women allowed it to stop them from accomplishing what they were meant to do.

Mankiller, Heumann, and Rousso dedicated their lives to advocating for others. When I look at the accomplishments of these women, I almost feel like an underachiever.  They have not allowed what might be seen by others as limitations to limit them.

Lange, Kahlo, and Ghimire have used their experiences to enhance their artistic expression. Ghimire is particularly inspiring in that her own country as well as her body would have left her without a voice and yet through her writing she has found that voice.

Next time, I find myself thinking I am unable to do something, I need to remind myself how much each of these women have contributed to their communities and even the world by what they were able to accomplish while facing incredible challenges.


Alyson Beecher is an educator, book geek and literacy advocate with over 20 years of experience in education.  Currently, she is the K-8 Literacy Specialist for the Pasadena Unified School District in Pasadena, CA.  Alyson has served as the Chair of the ALA 2015 Schneider Family Book Award Jury and was an Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction second round judge for the CYBILS. She can be found on twitter @alybee930 or through her blog www.kidlitfrenzy.com

The Mother of Trees Wangari Maathai

March 27 - Today's post contributed by Valarie Budayr

The Mother of Trees Wangari Maathai
By Valarie Budayr

“ It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”

She was called Mama Miti ,which means Mama Trees, by many people in Kenya Africa. I first heard of Wangari Maathai when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. She was the first African woman to win this honor.

photo credit www.nobelprize.org

After learning more about her, I became inspired by her quest to re-forest Kenya with her Green Belt movement, how she inspired others and launched a grass-roots movement which spanned de-forestation and land conservation, gender issues, education, and politics.

There is a wonderful children’s book recently published called Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prevot and Illustrated by Aurelia Fronty.

Wangari Maathai was remarkable on many levels. Born in 1940, the eldest of six children, it was thought that she would be the second mother in her family and help raise the other children. When Wangari was 8 years old she moved with her mother and two brothers from the farm in the Kenyan countryside to a village which had a school so her brothers could attend. Her brother asked why Wangari didn’t go to school ? This question prompted Wangari’s mother to let her go to school. Wangari had a full education and in 1960 when British colonialism ended, President Kennedy of the United States invited many young Kenyans to study at Universities in America.

Wangari Maathai studied at Mount St. Scholastica College in Aitchison, Kansas where she received a bachelors degree in Biology. She then went onto graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh where she earned a Masters degree in Biology. After finishing her degrees in the US she returned to Kenya where she worked as a research assistant in zoology. Through travel to Germany and then back again to Nairobi and amid much political strife, Wangari received her Ph.d in Veterinary anatomy from Nairobi University. The first woman to do so.

photo credit Martin Rowe www.takingrootfilm.com

Throughout her studies she traveled extensively throughout Kenya. The trees and wildlife she had known as a child were simply vanishing due to de-forestation caused first by the British colonists and then by the Kenyans themselves. She found that wild animals had fled the chain saws, women couldn’t feed their children because farms had been made into plantations for rich people, and the rivers were muddy due to the top soil eroding into the river because there were no tree roots to hold it back. She was shocked.

From this point on Wangari knew how to make use of her education. She would tell leaders and her fellow Kenyans about the importance of trees. “A tree is a treasure that provides shade, fruit, pure air, and nesting places for birds. “ Change happened very slowly. In 1977 she created the Green Belt Movement. Traveling from village to village, speaking on behalf of trees, animals, and children, she encouraged villagers to think about their future. Teaching women to plant tree nurseries in each village, she provided women with a financial bonus for each tree that grew. One tree turned into thousands, thousands of newly planted trees turned into millions. To date over 30 million trees have been planted in Kenya creating forests for the future.

As her Green Belt Movement continued to grow she had another problem facing her. The Government made their money by cutting down trees and forests and here was Wangari Maathai planting trees. There was a conflict between Wangari, her Green Belt Movement, and the Kenyan Government. In her quest not to let one more tree be cut down, Wangari rallies her friends to fight the bulldozers which cut down trees for large real estate projects.

photo credit Martin Rowe www.takingrootfilm.com

She fought the Kenyan government for 24 years. Like the trees she now wanted democracy to grow in Kenya. She knew that if her people worked together to create new laws for Kenya, her country would become stronger.

She ran for office many times opposing President Daniel Arap Moi. In a last ditch effort President Moi tried to divide the people in order to remain president. He knew that if that tribes would start fighting each other they wouldn’t have time to look at how he was governing. Wangari and the Green Belt Movement were onto President Moi and foiled his plans. Wangari suggested to each tribe that they offer trees from their nurseries to neighboring tribes as symbols of peace. Tree by tree, peace and friendships were cultivated between the tribes of Kenya.

Eventually in 2002 President Moi was defeated. Wangari Maathai won her bid for office in parliament and spent her last years creating a fair nation for women, men, children and trees.

photo credit www.plant-for-the-planet-billiontreecampaign.org

To this day the Green Belt Movement is planting trees and protects the 2nd largest tropical forest in the world.

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived. Filled with colorful and vibrant painted illustrations. This book will become a cherished addition to your library as well as an inspiration to make a difference.


Valarie Budayr is publisher at Audrey Press, founder of the award winning website Jump into a Book, and co founder of Multi-Cultural Children’s Book Day: Read Your World.

Alice Waters and the Youngest Foodies

March 21 - Today's post contributed by The Fourth Musketeer

Alice Waters and the Youngest Foodies

I grew up in the 1960's and 1970's, when Jello mold, Kentucky Fried chicken, and a glass of Tab were considered a perfectly acceptable meal to feed your kids. TV cooking shows consisted largely of Julia Child's refined French cooking. In today's brave new world of 24 hour cooking shows on Food Network, there's even a reality cooking show competition just for kids, The Kids Baking Championship. Reality cooking shows abound on many other channels, even the august Public Broadcasting System. Our kids are more food savvy than ever, and boys as well as girls watch cooking shows these days.

Throughout history, of course, it's been women who've been most intimately associated with cooking and preparing food at home, but men who have been the great restaurant chefs. One important figure who has smashed this barrier is Alice Waters, chef and owner of Chez Panisse, a Berkeley, California restaurant known for using local, organic ingredients and pioneering "California cuisine." Alice is not only a chef, but also an activist, and in 2014 she was recognized as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people. Described as a "revolutionary who wants to change the world through food" by writer and food critic Ruth Reichl.  Waters also holds the distinction of being the first woman to win the prestigious James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef Award. 

Alice Waters

Author Jacqueline Briggs Martin (author of the Caldecott-winning Snowflake Bentley and many other favorite titles) traces the life of Alice Waters in Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious (Readers to Eaters Press, 2014), a thoroughly engaging picture book for young people ages 5 and up. The author starts our journey by telling us that "Chef Alice Waters wants every kid in the country to come with her on the trip to Delicious." All kids should know the "taste of good food" and "have a delicious lunch--every day." Briggs Martin highlights Alice's relationship with food, from her days as a child when she used fruits and vegetables to create a costume for a contest, to her studies in France, where she learned the importance of fresh, local ingredients, to her establishment of a Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California,in 1971.  We learn that good food starts not in the kitchen but in the field, with good farmers. Soon Alice dreams of teaching children how to grow their own food, starting with just one school but expanding around the country. Children learn the importance of delicious food made from fresh ingredients they grow themselves.  Her efforts grew into The Edible Schoolyard, whose mission is to build and share an edible education curriculum for students in grades K-12. The book features an Afterword by Alice Waters, an author's note, bibliography, and suggestions of resources for further reading on growing and cooking your own food.

The whimsical illustrations are by textile designer and artist Hayelin Choi.  In her first picture book, she offers illustrations that perfectly complement the joyous feeling of the text, with smiling children from different ethnicities sharing the delight of good food. The artist also offers diverse perspectives, including some two page spreads set up in a square like a school yard, with pictures that children can follow around the edges.

This is a book profiles an important figure in American women's history; the book is sure to be of interest to young foodies, and may inspire some to become involved with growing their own food as well or starting Edible Schoolyard programs in their community. 

Margo Tanenbaum is a children's librarian in the Los Angeles area. She is a co-curator of Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month and also blogs about children's books at The Fourth Musketeer. 

Two of my Heroes

March 17 - Today's post contributed by Elizabeth Partridge

Two of my heroes

I've always loved writing about people who are committed to changing their world: musicians and artists being my favorites. But when I became interested in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery and flew to Selma, in November, 2008, I met two courageous sisters who instantly became my heroes. Or, as they would say, my sheroes.

Lynda Blackmon Lowery and her sister Joanne Blackmon Bland grew up in Selma. Their mother died when she was denied medical care at the nearby whites-only hospital. A delay in care getting to the hospital that treated African-Americans meant she didn't survive. Their grandmother stepped in to help raise them. She was a strong, no-nonsense woman.

When Lynda was fourteen and Joanne was ten, their grandmother took them to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. speak at Brown Chapel on January 2, 1965. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) had been working for several years leading a voting registration campaign, and Dr. King had determined the time was right to bring national publicity to the effort.

Setting off on the Selma to Montgomery March, 1965. Library of Congress

Lynda and Joanne became two of the children who protested, marched, and were jailed repeatedly as part of the attempt to allow African Americans to register to vote. On March 7, 1965, marchers set out across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, headed for Montgomery. Lynda and Joanne were among the protest marchers. The mounted troopers ran straight into the marchers with tear gas and billy clubs. Joanne fainted when a horse and deputy bore down on her. Lynda was hit twice in the head with a billy club, requiring many stitches.

Hundreds of children, singing Freedom Songs march towards a detention compound after being arrested. February 6, 1965. Library of Congress

You'd think that would have stopped these two, but on Sunday, March 21, they joined the marchers leaving Selma, once again headed for Montgomery. Joanne walked the first day, and Lynda was one of 300 people allowed to go on the full, five day march all the way to the state capital. Her biggest obstacle had been her father, who was afraid for her. But she was determined. She was also mad. She wanted to show Governor Wallace the stitches still dangling from the back of her head and her forehead. "I was not brave," Lynda told me. "I was not courageous. I was determined. That's how I got to Montgomery."

I'd have to disagree. To me, courage is a core strength and a powerful moral compass, triggered in a person by harrowing circumstances. These two sisters embody it. Brava!

With the release of the movie Selma and the 50th anniversary bridge crossing with President Obama, there's been a groundswell of interest this historic event. Some people have criticized Selma for its "inaccuracies." I disagree. It's a great way to explore the difference between fiction and non-fiction, Hollywood films and documentaries.

I've posted some teaching ideas here: http://www.slj.com/2015/01/standards/selma-accurate-enough-questions-about-the-films-historical-accuracy-present-a-teachable-moment/#_

To read more about Lynda and Joanne:

• Marching for Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don't You Get Weary by Elizabeth Partridge (Viking 2009).
• Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley (Dial Books, 2015).

Working on the layout for Marching for Freedom. Catherine Frank, editor, Elizabeth Partridge, author, and Jim Hoover, designer. 2009.

Elizabeth Partridge is the author of numerous books for children and young adults. She is a National Book Award finalist, and has received the Michael Printz award and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award. She teaches at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Women Heroes of the American Revolution

March 11 - Today's post contributed by Susan Casey

Women participated in almost every aspect of the American Revolution.  The war came to them.  Battles took place in cities, on farms, outside homes.  Women aided the cause as spies, soldiers, saboteurs, rescuers and more.

Sybil Ludington photo = Courtesy of Susan Casey

Since many women of the time couldn’t read or write, their stories were passed on orally or captured in journals and letters often written by relatives.  When doing research to write Women Heroes of the American Revolution, though, I soon discovered that not every story passed down could be trusted, that there were often multiple versions of many of the tales.

Take the story of Prudence Wright who lived in Pepperrell, Massachusetts, only 45 miles away from the conflicts in Lexington and Concord that sparked the revolution.  She and other women in town had bid goodbye to their husbands, sons, and brothers who had left to join the fight.  While they waited to hear of the events, Prudence overheard a conversation about couriers carrying messages to the British in Boston and that they would be traveling past her town on their way.  She’d heard enough.  She mustered the women of Pepperrell who grabbed muskets, pitchforks, whatever they could use as a weapon. The women hid by the side of a road at the foot of a nearby bridge, surprised and dismounted the couriers when they passed, seized the messages, sadly discovered that one of the men was Prudence’s own brother, then delivered them to the authorities.

Prudence Wright monument - Courtesy of the Pepperell Historical Commission

The story of Prudence and the pitchfork brigade is a straightforward account but there are several versions of it.  Which one is the most accurate? Sorting that out points up the difficulty of writing about people who lived two hundred years ago.  As I wrote I struggled with what to include and finally decided to include all the accounts, to give readers the chance to interpret the event for themselves--to play the historian.  I did that throughout.

Elizabeth Burgin's story is an example of a dramatic tale gleaned from sketchy information related in only three letters--an account told in correspondence.  Two of the letters are from her and one is from George Washington.  She wrote that she helped 200 American prisoners escape from prison ships in New York and that she was on the run herself after the British offered a reward for her capture.  Washington commended her in his letter, writing that she had been "indefatigable for the relief of prisoners" while asking for aid for her.  Snippets that whet one's appetite for more.

Some stories are well documented and from a variety of sources.  Sixteen-year-old Betty Zane volunteered to run across a battlefield to retrieve much needed gunpowder for settlers fighting the British and their Native American allies who were attacking Fort Henry in one of the last battles of the war.  She ran the hundred yards to a cabin where the ammunition was kept and the attackers just watched. However, on her return trip they must have realized her mission.  Shots flew but she dodged them and safely slid back inside the gates of the fort, gunpowder in hand.

Heroism of Miss Elizabeth Zane  - Library of Congress LC-USZ62-2335

 Esther Reed, the wife of the then governor of Pennsylvania, called for the ladies of Philadelphia to help improve the plight of the ordinary soldier.  She, Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, and dozens of other women went door-to-door fundraising, used the money to buy linen and made 2,500 shirts for the troops.

Esther Reed Sarah Franklin Bache - The drawing appeared in Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution by Benson John Lossing,  published in 1860

Sarah Franklin Bache - The drawing appeared in Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution by Benson John Lossing,  published in 1860.

Martha Bratton boldly defied the British soldiers who came to seize her family’s stash of gunpowder.  As they approached, she lit it on fire.  After it exploded the British commander demanded to know the perpetrator.  Martha boldly proclaimed, “It was I who did it.”

Martha Bratton from The Story of a Great Nation, 1888; courtesy of Historical Center of York County, Culture and Heritage Museums.

In some stories, though, the action of women is implied as opposed to being known.  Mary Lindley Murray helped the Continental Army.  Or did she?  Just after being defeated by the British in New York, the last of the Continental army troops, 3500 of them, were retreating on a road leading out of town.  On that same road, however, British officers and their 8,000 troops were heading into New York.  Had the two armies met it would have been a disaster for the Americans.  But they didn't.  Mary, a Quaker, who was suspected of being supportive of the revolution, invited the British officers to stop at her home along the way for some wine and cake.  As the British sipped wine and joked with Mary about her American friends, the rebel troops successfully joined the rest of the army.  No direct evidence exists that Mary assessed the situation and planned the delay.  The British later claimed they were ordered to stop in that area to await the arrival of other British troops.  The buzz at the time, though, was that Mary saved the American army.  What do you think?

Mary Lindley Murray -  Courtesy of Susan Casey

In other stories, facts give way to imagination.  Molly Pitcher is lauded in many textbooks for taking over a cannon when her husband was felled on the battlefield.  Yet anyone looking for a birth or death record for her won't find one.  Many artists depicted the scene and since they didn't know the brave woman's name dubbed her Captain Molly and ultimately Molly Pitcher.  The fictional Molly has overshadowed the real-life efforts of Mary Ludwig Hays and Margaret Cochran Corbin, the women who actually stepped up at two different battles.  They were acknowledged in their lifetimes but haven't enjoyed the fame garnered by the legendary Molly Pitcher.

Molly Pitcher - Library of Congress LC-USZC2-3186

Researching, writing and verifying the stories of the women heroes of the American Revolution was challenging but it was a captivating adventure, one spent over many months in dozens of libraries.

Susan Casey
Courtesy of Susan Casey

Susan Casey is the author of Women Heroes of the American Revolution, of Kid Inventing! A Handbook for Young Inventors, Women Invent! Two Centuries of Discoveries of That Have Shaped Our World.  She is also a journalist whose work has appeared in Fast Company, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle among other publications.  She lives in Los Angeles.

Bring New Children's Books to Life with Crafts and Games

March 2 - Today's post contributed by Penny Peck

Many children prefer to learn with hands on activities, so crafts and games are a great way to celebrate women in history.  Instead of sounding like a history lesson, this interactive format can attract a wide age range of children who will enjoy the crafts and art projects, as well as some fun games. Today, I am going to outline some simple do-it-yourself programming ideas tied to new children’s books on great women and their accomplishments.

The books and related activities are divided by age appeal, so you can use an activity with the appropriate grade level. For example, you can use books for young children in a storytime, along with the suggested hands-on activity, or use one of the books for tweens in a book discussion group who would also enjoy the related project. If a class comes for a library tour, you can read one of the short books suggested for that grade, or do booktalks if the class is 4th grade and up, and offer one of the activities that relate to those books.

You can also offer just one of these activities as a “passive program.”  Just set up the supplies for one activity, along with a poster outlining the instructions, for parent and child to do together at a library table.  These activities can also be adapted to the classroom, bookstore, or museum, since they fall into the type of “living history” activities that are so popular.  

Here are several books and a hands-on activity relating to each, which would be a great focus for a Women’s History program.

Books for Grades 4-8:















Conkling, Winifred. Passenger on the Pearl: The True Story of Emily Edmonson’s Flight from Slavery. Algonquin, 2015.

    Born a slave in 1782, Edmonson dreamed her children would be free. Filled with illustrations and sidebars, this history of their escape on a schooner in 1848 is an empowering look at an unknown true story. For a related activity, make paper quilt blocks similar to those thought to be used on the Underground Railroad: http://page.reallygoodstuff.com/pdfs/154227.pdf .  

Draper, Sharon M. Stella by Starlight. Atheneum, 2015.

    Stella uses writing to help her cope with the challenges of being an African-American girl in 1932 in North Carolina. Combining both sobering issues like segregation with humorous incidents like a Christmas pageant, this thoughtful novel will inspire readers to try their own hands at writing. Make journals out of cereal boxes: www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/cereal-box-books .

Gherman, Beverly. First Mothers. Clarion, 2015.

    Short sketches of the U.S. Presidents’ mothers are the focus of this engaging collective biography. Watercolor and pencil illustrations bring these important figures to life – perfect for Mothers’ Day! For an activity, children can make Mothers’ Day cards for the important women in their lives: www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/mothers-day/ .

Grimes, Nikki. Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts. Orchard/Scholastic, 2015.

    One-page vignettes describe the fictional friendship of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, with factual information that shows the shared goals of these two women would have made them fast friends if they had met. Dramatic illustrations by Michelle Wood add to the enjoyment.  For an activity, have readers write a letter to a famous woman they would like to meet, including elected officials, sports figures, entertainers, scientists or astronauts, or business leaders: www.readingrockets.org/article/introduction-letter-writing .

Kanefield, Teri. The Girl from the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement. Abrams, 2014.

    Barbara Rose Johns is no longer an unsung hero in the Civil Rights movement, thanks to this book packed with photos and interesting information. In 1951, Johns led a walkout of her segregated high school to protest unfair conditions. For a related activity, readers can do something to benefit their own schools, including holding a book drive for the school library: www.instructables.com/id/Easy-book-drive-at-your-school/ .

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. The Red Pencil. Little Brown, 2014.

    Set in Darfur about ten years ago, this novel in free verse describes the life of a 12-year-old girl and her experience in a refugee camp. Amira dreams of going to school to learn to read and write, something her traditional mother doesn’t support. Celebrate this true-to-life novel by making sandpaper art. Using crayons, draw on coarse sandpaper to create pictures of animals, scenery, or people. www.dltk-kids.com/world/egypt/sand_paper_art.htm.

Books for Grades 1-3:

Fern, Tracey E. Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud. Farrar, 2014.

  Prentiss was the navigator on the Flying Cloud, a ship that made a record-breaking voyage from New York City to San Francisco in 1851. This picture book biography brings that achievement to life. Children can make a ship model following these instructions: www.redtedart.com/2013/06/08/boat-craft-ideas-for-summer/ .

McCully, Emily Arnold. Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story. Farrar, 2015.

    Lizzie Murphy became a professional baseball player in the early 1900’s, and is the star of this picture book biography. Murphy’s life is an excellent example of a person standing up for herself against prejudice, doubt, and opposition. For a related activity, offer these baseball word search puzzles: http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/baseball.htm .

Editors Note: Emily Arnold McCully will be our featured contributor on March 6th!

Paul, Miranda. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia. Millbrook, 2015.

    In the 1980’s, Isatou Ceesay noticed that discarded plastic bags were harming the environment and animals in her native Gambia, so she came upon a solution. She crocheted strips of the plastic bags into purses to sell! Have tweens create their own bookbags by weaving strips of plastic bags: www.instructables.com/id/Woven-Plastic-Bag-Bag/.

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation. Abrams, 2014.

    In both the straightforward text and the dramatic, stylized illustrations, readers will learn about the court case that integrated California schools in the late 1940’s. The Mendez family fought for all children to attend local schools at a time when segregated “Mexican” schools were the norm. For a related activity, children can make some authentic Mexican crafts such as papel picado:  www.teachkidsart.net/mexican-papel-picado/ .

Books for Preschool – Kindergarten:

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious. Readers to Eaters, 2014.

    This picture book biography celebrates Berkeley restaurant-owner and chef Alice Waters, who founded the Edible Schoolyard Project to promote healthy school lunches. One activity could involve growing a library vegetable garden if you have the space. Or, have children decorate flower pots planted with carrot seeds for their own home mini-gardens: www.kiddiegardens.com/painting_clay_pots.html .

Spires, Ashley. The Most Magnificent Thing. Kids Can Press, 2014.

    In this picture book, a girl attempts to make a “magnificent thing” with unsuccessful results, until she learns to plan her project. Readers will take away the notion that invention takes several attempts as well as solid planning. For a related activity, use up all your leftover craft materials and recyclables and allow children to make their own collages, sculptures, or art projects: http://artfulparent.com/collage-art-ideas-kids .

Penny Peck has been a children's librarian for over 25 years; before that, she was Snow White and Mother Goose at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, ran a nightclub, worked as the wardrobe mistress for the Berkeley Ballet, and was an agent for a standup comedian. Her experience includes performing thousands of storytimes, leading hundreds of book club discussions for students in grades 4-12, conducting hundreds of school tours and assemblies, and reviewing children's books and media. She is editor of "BayNews," the newsletter for the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California, www.bayviews.org.  Since 2002 she has been a part-time instructor at San Jose State University, specializing in classes on youth and teen services and programming, and has written three books on children’s services, published by Libraries Unlimited, including Crash Course in Children’s Services: 2nd Edition (2014), Crash Course in Storytime Fundamentals: 2nd Edition (2015), and Reader’s Advisory for Children and Tweens (2010).