Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport


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by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Expected Publication February 23, 2016
Disney Hyperion 
Nonfiction Picture Book
40 Pages
Review copy obtained by publisher


Goodreads Summary
She couldn't go to college.
She couldn't become a politician.
She couldn't even vote.
But Elizabeth Cady Stanton didn't let that stop her.
She called on women across the nation to stand together and demand to be treated as equal to men-and that included the right to vote. It took nearly seventy-five years and generations of women fighting for their rights through words, through action, and through pure determination . . . for things to slowly begin to change.

With the help of these trailblazers' own words, Doreen Rappaport's engaging text, brought to life by Matt Faulkner's vibrant illustrations, shows readers just how far this revolution has come, and inspires them to keep it going!

My Thoughts
Doreen Rappaport is the master of picture book biographies. This book chronicles the effort of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many others, in the fight to allow women the right to vote. I was ashamed that I did not realize all that these women went through and how long it took (from 1850-1920) before President Wilson granted all women the right to vote. Susan B Anthony alone gave 75 speeches a year for 45 years!!!

Rappaport includes many of the female activists of the time including: Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lucy Stone and Carrie Chapman to name a few. She shares the information in a way that will help children understand what life was like at the time. I expect (and hope) that they will be surprised and upset by how differently women were treated. 

Matthew Falkner provides the amazing illustrations. He has a gift with drawing faces and I felt as through I was looking at photographs of the actual people.  His attention to background details and deliberate use of size and space help to deliver the author's message.
Image from Doreen Rappaport's Website: http://doreenrappaport.com/elizabeth-started-all-the-trouble/

I will definitely be reading this book to my fourth graders and would recommend it for grades 3-6. 

Resources
A Mighty Girl website has a great list of books about influential women in history.

Possible Companion Texts:
   

See what others have to say about this book:

Visit Doreen Rappaport's website to learn more about her research.

9 comments:

  1. I'll be looking forward to this book, perfect for Women's History Month and Doreen Rappaport never disappoints. Thanks for letting us know about this book.

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  2. What a great idea, it's like you've already got my Women's History Month display started for me :)

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  3. And sadly, there are still women all over the world fighting for equality. I've read a few biographies in the past about Stanton and others. They were so courageous and determined. Wonderful to see this new book, Gigi!

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  4. Another strong woman biographical picture book! I'll have to look for this one!

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  5. I'm putting this on my list too, I had not heard of it before! Like you said, if it's Doreen Rappaport, it's one to read!
    Enjoy this weekend, wish I could be there!

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  6. I'm happy to see more biographies featuring women. :)

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  7. This is a new one to me. Great review!

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  8. Oh wow, we're going to have a Fearless Female theme in March - so I will definitely pin this title so that I'd remember! :)

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