BOARD BOOK REVIEWS: Courageous People Who Changed the World/Inventors Who Changed the World by Heidi Poelman
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the intrepid efforts of Susan B. Anthony to the quiet courage of Rosa Parks, Little Heroes: Courageous People Who Changed the World is a young child's first introduction to the brave people who fought to make the world a better place. Simple text and adorable illustrations tell the contributions of eight champions of freedom: Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, William Wilberforce, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. A quote from each individual is included on each spread along with colorful, delightful artwork.
REVIEW
Writing a biography for young listeners (3-6 years old) is challenging. For one thing it's almost impossible to condense an entire life into one or two sentences. And then there's the problem of deciding what about that person's life should be highlighted. I do admire the attempt made in this book, but it's not entirely successful. While the illustrations are adorable and appealing, some of the text was a bit problematic for me. References to slavery were made when William Wilberforce and Abraham Lincoln were shared which is hard enough, explaining slavery to a three-year-old is going to be challenging. But what surprised me the most was in the description of Harriet Tubman, it isn't mentioned that she was a slave, just that she was told what to do all the time. That seemed a bit odd to me. And with Abraham Lincoln, the reader is informed that the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves in 1863, which isn't accurate. It would have been better to say that Lincoln worked to help free the slaves (which he did by supporting and helping get the 13th Amendment passed). While the book is an admirable attempt to share with young readers the example of some people who did admirable things, the finished product could have been better.
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the ranging curiosity of Leonardo da Vinci to the dedication and sacrifice of Marie Curie, Little Heroes: Inventors Who Changed the World is a young child's first introduction to the brilliant people who taught us the meaning of perseverance and innovation. Simple text and adorable illustrations tell the contributions of nine renowned inventors from around the world: Cai Lun, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Grace Hopper, Mary Sherman Morgan, and Nikola Tesla. Inspire your own little inventor with the words of these inventive heroes who changed the world.
REVIEW
It was fun to read about some of the world's greatest inventors. And as in the previous book, the illustrations are adorable and appealing. As one would expect in a board book for young listeners and readers, there isn't a lot of detail about the inventors or their inventions. But there is enough to share the idea that people create some remarkable things. It would have been nice however for more than just one person of color (Cai Lun) to be highlighted, the other eight inventors were all white. Plus, only two out of the nine were female. A little more diversity would have been appreciated by myself. In addition, Thomas Edison continues to get credit for work that he did not complete on his own. An appealing book that could have been better.
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