Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (2003), Edition: First Edition, 48 pages
Description
Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an important woman in the history of the United States, as well as others in her same field of accomplishment.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member legaleagle
I don't normally read children's books, but I received this book as a Christmas gift from my parents last year and finally read through it in one sitting last night. I'm crazy for Abigail Adams, which was what initially caught my eye about this book and which was ample reason to ignore the author's
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name! That and all proceeds go to charity. This is a wonderful picture book that describes some of America's most important women through the alphabet and precious illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser. Many of the expected ladies were present - Abigail Adams, Emily Dickinson, Sandra Day O'Connor. But also some women previously unknown to me, including Elizabeth Blackwell (the first woman to earn a medical degree), Anna Jarvis (who is credited with starting the Mother's Day tradition), Mary Kies (the first woman to receive a patent), and many others. Nearly every profession and endeavor is represented, from authors and artists, to doctors, scientists, journalists, political figures, educators, inventors and entrepreneurs, aviators, performers and athletes. With a bit of history, a bit of feminism and a ton of inspiration, this would be a great gift to a little girl or boy in your life. Sure to drive home the message that men and women alike can do or be anything they can dream! Show Less
LibraryThing member kimcc
This book is very uneven for the choices of the women included. I am unclear what Cheney’s method was for selection. She mentions an old biographical dictionary called Notable American Women as a source of information. There have been more recent and more comprehensive encyclopedias since this
I can think of a couple of ways to use this book. It could be used by older students to analyze who is included and who is missing in this fairly recent publication. That could lead to discussions about the inclusion of multiculturalism in children’s materials today. For younger students, they could research one of the women included in the book and do a biographical report on her to provide much more detail than given in this alphabet book. The biographies could be tied to women’s history month or with any other unit, like a unit on artists or scientists or even personal heroes.
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source published in 1971 and 1980. If she relied on this dictionary for her information, that might account for the limited range of women chosen for this book. There are some odd decisions, like there are only 8 women artists on page N. No information is given for any of the women; just their name appears at the bottom of their portrait. To find any information, you need to look at the index which provides a line or two on each woman featured in the book. One square even depicts the letter “N” instead of a woman artist. Eight seems a pretty small number to celebrate given our rich heritage of women artists in America. Similarly, only 8 women writers are featured on the W page but then other women writers’ names are listed around the 4 margins. Interestingly, Willa Cather and Harriet Beecher Stowe are given some biographical detail but others like Toni Morrison and Pearl S. Buck get only their name listed below their image. Important native women writers like Leslie Marmon Silko and Louise Erdrich are missing completely. In contrast, the J page is dedicated solely to Anna Jarvis, a woman who pioneered the Mother’s Day holiday---not sure I would count that as more important than someone like Ida B Wells-Barnett, anti-lynching activist who I can’t find at all. I also find the illustrations to be more overwhelming than enjoyable; some pages need more white space and clearer layouts to communicate effectively. I can think of a couple of ways to use this book. It could be used by older students to analyze who is included and who is missing in this fairly recent publication. That could lead to discussions about the inclusion of multiculturalism in children’s materials today. For younger students, they could research one of the women included in the book and do a biographical report on her to provide much more detail than given in this alphabet book. The biographies could be tied to women’s history month or with any other unit, like a unit on artists or scientists or even personal heroes.
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LibraryThing member haldemac
ABC of important women in American history. Full of facts and illustrations. Fun read!
LibraryThing member amclellan0908
Cheney takes a specialized subject matter, women in American history, adapts it to fit an alphabet format, and then tells the story of women in America's history. Before we get to "A is for Abigail Adams," Cheney writes a note to the audience, of equal importance to the text, where she says, "There
As high school ELA, I'm always looking for a new way to dress up the research process; while papers are a necessary evil, students use research for more than just research papers. Having them take a subject and research it in such a way as to manipulate the final product into the ABCs or 123s of provides a fresh take on the research process. I will probably use this form (ABCs of) to have my English I students research the life of William Shakespeare.
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is also another story to tell, and that's of the amazing things women have achieved, often before their rights and capabilities were fully recognized." Some pages, like A and B, are devoted to one woman (Abigail Adams and Elizabeth Blackwell), while others, like "P" list a plethora of performers like Audrey and Katherine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. At the end of the text, Cheney provides a 1-2 sentence biographical summary for the women listed on the different pages, which helps readers learn a little more about all of the women interested in the book. As high school ELA, I'm always looking for a new way to dress up the research process; while papers are a necessary evil, students use research for more than just research papers. Having them take a subject and research it in such a way as to manipulate the final product into the ABCs or 123s of provides a fresh take on the research process. I will probably use this form (ABCs of) to have my English I students research the life of William Shakespeare.
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LibraryThing member MarissaWilliams
Summary:
This is a book that this through the alphabet listing historical American women.
Personal reaction:
I honestly hadn't realized there were so many great historical women. I wish it would have listed some more important facts about each woman.
Classroom extension ideas:
1. Create an almanac of
2. Let each student recreate an image of one of the women in the book.
This is a book that this through the alphabet listing historical American women.
Personal reaction:
I honestly hadn't realized there were so many great historical women. I wish it would have listed some more important facts about each woman.
Classroom extension ideas:
1. Create an almanac of
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great American men and their accomplishments. (Each student will be assigned a letter)2. Let each student recreate an image of one of the women in the book.
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LibraryThing member TaraKennedy
This was a great book with lots of information. Sometimes the book was difficult to read, with text going in borders around pictures and pages. There were also many pages so packed with names and information it was hard to make sure you'd read it all. Also, my eyes aren't all that bad, but
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sometimes it was hard to read the text. It is a tiny thing, but it bothered me that the structure wasn't the same throughout. Sometimes the letter was for a name and sometimes it was for an accomplishment. Drove me a little batty. But, there is a great deal of great information, especially in the endnotes of the book. Great illustrations. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Nonfiction — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
48 p.; 10.5 inches
ISBN
0689858191 / 9780689858192