An excellent book that was well-received when it was first published in 2018. We learn about 50 pioneering woman across history from around the world.
Instead of just studying history, let’s think about HerStory too! In this uplifting and inspiring book, children can learn about 50 intrepid women from around the world and throughout history. The reader learns their stories, the difficulties they faced and the changes they brought about. The range is hugely diverse – politicians, mathematicians, artists, scientists, royalty, explorers, musicians, teachers and many many more. Some are well-known, and others less familiar – Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc, Indira Gandhi, Theresa Kachindamoto, Empress Wu Zetian, Harriet Tubman, Boudicca, Hatshepsut, Isabella I of Castile, Sacagawea, Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, Coco Chanel, Billie Holiday, Anna Pavlova, Mirabai, Maya Angelou, Georgia O’Keeffe, Emily Bronte, Sarah Bernhardt, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, Mary Seacole, Shirin Ebadi, Maria Montessori, Mother Teresa, Wangari Maathai, Elizabeth Blackwell, Eva Peron, Marie Curie, Rachel Carson, Ada Lovelace, Hypatia, Rosalind Franklin, Mary Anning, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Hodgkin, Dian Fossey, Valentina Tereshkova, Malala Yousafzai, Rigoberta Menchu, Amelia Earhart, Hannah Szenes, Rosa Parks, Noor Inayat Khan, Emmeline Pankhurst, Cathy Freeman, Sophie Scholl, Anne Frank.
The pages are large and beautifully illustrated with artwork and photos. The information is accessible and I particularly like the choice of quotations which are thought-provoking, such as Sarah Bernhardt “Life begets life. Energy creates energy, It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” or Florence Nightingale “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.” or Annie Sullivan “Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.”
Perfect for assemblies and also for sharing in class this is an important book that will inspire children. Don’t miss it.
Brenda Marshall
HerStory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook the World by Katherine Halligan & Sarah Walsh
Inspiring Lives series
Nosy Crow
ISBN 9781788007153
£12.99
First published 2018; this edition published 2026
