Another recent health issue caused me to have a few days off from work and I did some reading. I first picked up a few picture books as I figured I could concentrate on them. And except for one book, they were all not easy. The first two were about women of history. Women that we might not know about or know about, but not everything.
The Power of Her Pen: The story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra is a “Wow” book. It is a great look at someone we might not be familiar with. She is a pioneer of black and women’s history. This book in a great introduction to the power of then pen and overcoming anything in your way. Payne was a powerful woman, who knew what she wanted and how to get it. And yet, because she was a woman and black, the road was less than easy. Payne is the kind of person I enjoy learning about because she is not a “Well known.” Sure, Rosa Parks is amazing. Yes, Amelia Earhart did great things. But it is women like Payne that are just as important. The fun illustrations top it all off. They are slightly realistic-abstract, give good details and have strong colors.
Marie Curie is a woman that some things are known about as she is a Medium-Known. This biography has pieces of information I was unaware of about Curie. It is a good introduction to her. And even if you think you know, you might pick up things as well. The only part I did not like was the fantastical element of “fantasy beasts” that want to stop Curie (and in turn the knowledge she gains and gives to the world) by tossing in obstacles and other hardships. However, it will be the perfect addition to stop the flow of traditionally biographical information in a story format and help your reader or listener to process the information. Marie Curie and the Power of Persistence is a picture book that was created by a team: Karla Valenti, Annalisa Beghell and Micaela Crespo Quesada.
All ages can enjoy, but the younger crowd might not sit for the length of the book. However, both illustrations can be fun and you can make up a bit of a story from them. If you are looking for a black history and/or women’s history book (as February and March are coming up), these are two are must haves.