Suffragette: The Battle for Equality by David Roberts

Women’s History Month – March 2020

The National Women’s History Alliance’s 2020 Women’s History Month theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote.”  The theme honors “the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.”  And, I have the perfect share to start off this month’s celebration.

Suffragette: The Battle for Equality

David Roberts, Author & Illustrator

Walker Books,Nonfiction, Oct. 8, 2019

Suitable for Ages: 7-10

Themes: Women’s Suffrage, American and British Suffragettes, Political Movement,  Right to Vote, 19th Amendment

Book Synopsis:

A century ago, women in the United States and the United Kingdom won the right to vote. The long road to victory required courage, intelligence, and th tireless determination of many fascinating women and men, some of whose contributions to this profound societal change have received relatively little attention.

Here, in a lavishly illsutrated book for young people (and adults), best-selling author-illustrator David Roberts celebrates dozens of key suffrage figures from the U.K. and U.S. in beautiful portraits and thrilling scenes that bring them — and their couragous  efforts — to vivid life.

Why I like this book:

Davis Robert’s engaging resource paints a vivid picture of one of the largest grassroot political movements in history and its key leaders — just in time for the hundredth anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment.

These women were giants of their time — many not living long enough to see the enormity of what they achieved. They lived in a male-dominated world and weren’t considered equals. But they were fierce, courageous and unstoppable in their commitment, efforts and activitions. Nothing deterred them from gaining their right to vote. They demonstrated and canvassed. They were imprisoned, and went on hunger strikes.  Some of the key figures in the United States included Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Emmeline Pankhurst, Ida B. Wells, Susan B. Anthony, and many more heroic women and men. Many were abolitionists.

Readers will enjoy how this over-sized book is designed and broken down into simple two-page chapters that are easily understood. Some of the chapters include topics like: It’s a man’s world; what is suffrage; the lost vote in 1832; notable U.S. and U.K. Suffragists; the organized movements; strikes; violent activities; Black Friday; suffrage songs; the vote won; and the Nineteenth Amendment. There are also stories of notable women. And the book is arranged chronologically, according to dates and events.

David Robert’s artwork is extraordinary. His soft watercolors are humorous and true to the period. In a Foreword at the beginning of the book, Roberts shares how a school history project launched his interest in the suffragettes. And, he says that “illustrating this book was enormous fun,” because he had to interpret and imagine many of the scenes and action. And there is a beautiful Foreword written by Crystal N. Feimster, Ph.D., an associate professor at Yale, where she teaches courses in nineteenth and twentieth-century African history, women’s history, and southern history.

This book belongs in every school library.

David Roberts is one of today’s most celebrated illustrators. He has held a lifelong interest in the women’s suffrage movement, and that passion shines through on every page. He is the illustrator of many beloved and best-selling books for children, including Rosie Reveer, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist. He lives in London.

Other Important Events: The 2020 Women Making History Awards will be announced on March 8, International Women’s Day in Los Angeles. Check out the event.

Greg Pattridge hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.

*Review copy provided by publisher.