Friday, October 14, 2016

PPBF: Around America To Win The Vote

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick



Votes for Women!
Around America to Win the Vote,
by Mara Rockliff and Hadley Hooper
Around America To Win the Vote
Written by Mara Rockliff
Illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Candlewick, 2016
K-3, 40 pp


Themes:
Historical, Biography, Nonfiction, Women


Opening:
       On April 6, 1916, a little yellow car set out from New York City.
It carried:
tools,
spare parts,
a teeny-tiny typewriter,
an itsy-bitsy sewing machine,
one stout leather trunk bursting with useful things,
two smiling women,
and a wee black kitten with a yellow ribbon tied around its neck.
       The taller woman was Nell Richardson. The smaller one was Alice Burke. Together, they planned to drive all the way around America. It was a great big country, but they had a great big cause.


Synopsis:
During the early twentieth century, two women drove across the country and back again in "The Golden Flier." They held rallies and passed the word for women's suffrage. These plucky women fixed their own car, mended their own clothes, avoided hazards and bandits, and earned the respect of a nation. They believed so strongly that women had both a duty and a right to vote, that they devoted six months to their daring adventure. This is the story of that amazing trip.


What I Love:
This book is written in an engaging style. The text is as spunky as the women it tells about. The art is vibrant and fun, as Nell and Alice were, whether at a formal party or stuck in a mud puddle in a back-woods back road. Full of facts and interesting tidbits (many from the ladies' own journals.) Plus Back matter and notes. Perfect for an election year.


Bonus: 
 
Vintage votes poster by H. Dallas,
 turned into a coloring page, thanks to Sinergia
1. Read all about it on the Smithsonian web page. More info on Nell Richardson and her gorgeous car from America on the Move. Plus additional photos at the Library of Congress. Young readers can make a list of items they might need for a cross country road trip.

2. Visit the National Women's History Museum or read from the website concerning the suffragettes.

3. Just for fun, check out the sheet music and artifacts on the Women's Suffrage Memorabilia website. Have students write their own rally song.

4. University of Houston has a digital copy of a suffragette flyer, listing reasons women thought they ought to have the right to vote.

5. School Library Journal offers a huge list of books and suggestions for Demystifying an Election Year.

6. Check out these and more Perfect Picture Books at your local library.

Reviewed by Miranda
Reviewed by Julie


 
Reviewed by Vivian

Reviewed by Myra

 
Reviewed by Joanne
Reviewed by Grade Onederful



 
Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for Friday, October 14, 2016 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

19 comments:

  1. Perfect, perfect, perfect choice.

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    1. Thanks. Have you read it? It's so well done. I hope your library has it available.

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  2. This sounds like a grand adventure story! I was especially won over when you wrote, "The text is as spunky as the women it tells about." I can't wait to read this one!

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  3. This really is the "perfect" PB roundup for right now. :)
    I love the fun of the opening line and the look of the artwork. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks. The art suits the text and I loved learning about these amazing women.

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  4. I have never heard of Nell and Alice. What a great adventure they must have had traveling the country and promoting women's right to vote. Perfect timing.

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    1. Thanks. I intend to find out even more about them. This book has really whet my appetite.

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  5. What a timely story! The opening definitely piques my interest. Like others, I hadn't heard of Nell and Alice before. I will check this book out. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  6. Any book described as spunky about women from that era must be a good read!

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    1. They were determined to make their poiint, and clever enough to make it happen. Thanks.

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  7. My review of this book coming up in two weeks. Such an important reminder about the privilege of suffrage. And I love the poster you included in your post!

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    1. I hope you'll come back and leave the link here after it posts. I am looking forward to reading Mountain Chef. It comes highly recommended. Thanks for reading.

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  8. My review of this book coming up in two weeks. Such an important reminder about the privilege of suffrage. And I love the poster you included in your post!

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    1. Can't wait to see it. Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad we can spread the word about this amazing book.

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    2. I forgot to mention. I just finished Mountain Chef. So well done! I really enjoyed it and will be recommending it. Love how you used the research and structured the book!

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  9. I haven't seen this one--but I generally love everything Mara writes! And like other commenters, I hadn't heard of these women so I will learn something.

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    1. Mara does have an amazing talent for sewing a story together from bits and pieces. Thanks.

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