Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage by Nancy Ohlin (Rebel Girls)

 Penelope and I have been enjoying the Rebel Girls series of chapter books about strong women who made a difference in the world.

 I had never heard of Alicia Alonso before reading this book and I enjoyed learning her story.  Alonso was a famous ballerina originally from Cuba.  As an adult she lost her sight, but she kept working towards her dream and became a world-famous ballerina.  Her story was very inspiring.  Penelope and I liked the illustrations and how the story started with Alicia as a child and followed her through adulthood.  We even found movies of her on YouTube to watch her dance.  We loved that she also taught others how to dance and kept on dancing into her old age at a professional level.

 Overall, Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage is a motivational story of a sight impaired woman who followed her dreams to become a famous ballerina.

 Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code (Rebel Girls)

 

Penelope and I are continuing our reading of the Rebel Girls series by learning about Ada Lovelace.  Penelope loves math so she thought it was fascinating that young Ada Lovelace loved math as well and had great ideas for inventions.  As an adult, Ada put together what was later realized to be the first computer program and was able to imagine what the future would hold for computing.

 I had never heard of Ada Lovelace until a few years ago when I read The Innovators by Walter Isaacson.  Penelope loved the pictures in this book and the tales of Ada as a child, but she was not as captivated about Ada’s life as an adult as she was by Madame CJ Walker.  I think she did not really understand the work that Ada was doing with Charles Babbage on figuring out the mathematics and reasoning on how his machine worked.  Penelope also does not know who Lord Byron is, so the fact that Ada was his daughter went right over her head.  I explained how he was a famous poet, but ten-year-old Penelope did not really care about that. 

 Overall, Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is a good book to learn about this early mathematics and computer pioneer.  I was amazed by her vision.  It was great to read a book about a female mathematician. 

 Book Source:  Purchased from Barnes & Nobles

Madame C.J. Walker Builds a Business by Denene Miller (Rebel Girls series)

 My daughter Penelope just turned ten last week.  Over this past week, we’ve been enjoying reading about Madame C.J. Walker in the evenings together.  Madame C.J. Walker, or Sarah Breedlove, was the first female self-made millionaire in the United States.  She came up with hair products for African American women, manufactured them, and taught women to sell her products door to door.  I had never heard of Madame C.J. Walker until I heard a podcast about her on History Chicks.  Netflix had a great series about her this year as well that my husband and I enjoyed.  It was fun to learn more about her with my daughter.

 Penelope and I enjoyed this book.  She in particular liked how Madame C.J. Walker made products for hair and had salons that styled hair.  She also liked the relationship between Madame C.J. Walker and her daughter.  This book made Penelope question what lynching was and prompted a good discussion.  Madame C.J. Walker’s first husband was lynched leaving her a young widow.  Later in life, she worked on a variety of philanthropic works to empower African American people including working towards ending lynching. I was sad to realize we still don’t have the anti-lynching law at the federal level that she worked towards. 

 This book has great pictures and an engaging story.  We loved it.  I also love learning about history that was not part of history class.

 Favorite quote:  "I came from the cotton fields of the South.  I was promoted from there to the washtub.  Then to the kitchen and from there I promoted myself into the manufacturing business.  I have built my own factory on my own ground.  I am not ashamed of my roots, and they don't make me any less of a lady.  I know how to grow hair as well as I know how to grow cotton." 

 Overall, Madam C.J. Walker is a great book for kids to learn about great diverse people in our history.

 Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com