The ABCs of women's history

Gr 3 Up--While a single notable voice--Bahni Turpin--narrated Cortez's previous bestseller, The ABCs of Black History, three very young readers take turns here, not always successful in tackling complex vocabulary and multi-syllabic names (Malala Yousafzai particularly stands out as challenging). Galbis-Kuffner and Chanin are charmingly convincing (for the most part) with "activists" and "bookish," all the way to "zeal" and "zooms." Hanna-Sta. Ana, clearly the youngest, sweetly giggles through announcing his own name during opening credits and then requires an unnamed older reader to gently pre-read each sentence which he repeats, adorably, yes, but not especially clearly. Mixing genders here seems an empowering reminder that women's history is everyone's history. The targeted audience is potentially older than each of the credited narrators; their youth perhaps precludes including the impressively extensive "Terms and Figures" appendix at book's end--a missed opportunity. VERDICT More performative than effective, the audiobook will work better as a read-along for younger readers rather than as a compelling stand-alone aural adaptation.

From affirmation to zeal, and from Maya Angelou to Zora Neale Hurston--people and principles that made change. Similar in format to the creators'The ABCs of Black History (2020), this book celebrates many of the influential figures and important ideals crucial to women's history over the past 70 years. Rhymes and rhythm move readers energetically through the selected milestones and figures. If the beats and matching sounds are sometimes uneven, the message comes across loud and clear: Women have made essential contributions in every field, and you, reader, can do so, too. Most of the women cited in the text (and given expanded background information in the backmatter) are North Americans, with a few exceptions (Greta Thunberg, Wangari Maathai, Ada Lovelace, Malala Yousafzai). Among those highlighted are author Joan Didion, poet Naomi Shihab Nye, actor Anna May Wong, activist Angela Davis, scientist Katherine Johnson, activist Rosa Parks, athletes Venus and Serena Williams, and painter Frida Kahlo. These women share the stage with the important abstractions they embody, including courage, freedom, justice, knowledge, pride, persistence, resourcefulness, and solidarity. Jazzy, stylized illustrations depict characters diverse in skin color, ability, and more. A rainbow of hues and variations of composition and perspective keep the art fresh and eye-catching. An inclusive and inspiring look at significant aspects of women's history.(Informational picture book. 6-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.