Tag Archives: Mighty Girls

Apr19

Super Sporty Girls

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9781760896058

Penguin Australia

April 2020

  • ISBN: 9781760896058
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $24.99

At long last it seems our female sporting stars are getting some recognition. Women’s team sports are being televised and of course, our brilliant Ash Barty has done and is doing so much to raise the profile of successful sporting women.

So this book is particularly timely to encourage the Mighty Girls in your readership to focus on their preferred sport – whether as an enthusiastic amateur, potential professional or simply for general health and fitness.

Eighteen individuals and teams feature in spreads which face text offering a provocation to the reader as to what sport they might like to try out encompassing a wide variety of possibilities such as soccer, running, BMX, horse riding, sailing, tennis, surfing, golf (yayy!) and more. In short, something to suit every young girl who may be wondering what sport would suit them most.

Whether you already have some girls keen on their physical activity or you are planning to encourage them to have a go, or perhaps you are  undertaking an inquiry into inspirational Australians, this is going to be a definite for  your collection.

Highly recommended for readers from around 8 years upwards.

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Apr18

Super Nova – Krys Saclier/Rebecca Timms

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Super-NovaFord St Publishing

October 2019

ISBN: 9781925804300

RRP: $16.95

Here’s another terrific book to add to your discussions about sibling rivalry as well as Mighty Girls.  Nova’s brother knows she’s up to no good. He’s getting quite fed up with copping the blame for her nefarious actions like taking Dad’s freshly baked muffins or tangling up Granny’s wool, not to mention taking biggest brother Harry’s science kit.

He’s determined to uncover her peccadilloes and reveal to all that she is not the angelic child everyone believes her to be.

When he follows her out into the yard he discovers, with much astonishment, what she’s really up to. Nova is waging a battle against an alien invasion! She deftly foils their plot with the lure of muffins, her throw-net crafted from wool and smartly packs them into the spaceship built from Harry’s set, hurtling them back into space.

Astute and observant readers will love to spot the alien hiding in each illustration until the horde of them is finally revealed and will thoroughly enjoy the vibrancy of each spread. Nova’s brother is so impressed with her courageous and defiant defeat of the invading creatures that he willingly takes the blame for her being out of doors so late and with that, the jealousy disappears and is replaced by pride in his awesome little sister.

A thoroughly enjoyable romp of a read which young children will love and will provide a springboard for many a fantastical discussion on ways in which invading aliens might be thwarted.

Love it! Recommended for little humans from around Prep upwards.

Click to access Super-Nova-Teachers-Notes.pdf

 

Apr17

Taking the Lead – David Hill. Illustrated by Phoebe Morris.

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9780143774518

Penguin Australia

  • Published: 3 March 2020
  • ISBN: 9780143774518
  • Imprint: Picture Puffin
  • RRP: $19.99

It’s no secret that so many of us have the utmost admiration for the remarkable Jacinda Ardern – and no doubt that we not-so-secretly wish we had a leader of her calibre ourselves. This is a ‘Mighty Girl’ book that is so timely as the New Zealand Prime Minister continues to impress the globe with her skill, compassion and true leadership.

The book provides young readers with the background to this amazing woman beginning with her childhood and tracing her career until its current pinnacle as a national leader who is both widely and deeply respected.

In 2019 the US magazine Fortune put Jacinda on its list of the world’s greatest leaders. 

Rightly so and it has not gone unnoticed in our current global pandemic that the most respected national leaders who are making the greatest inroads into dealing with Covid-19 are all female. Who said that women are not suited to politics? How far have we come since the suffragette days in this respect?

Written simply but with enough detail to satisfy the curiosity of readers and with a double spread time-line at the end, the simple but effective illustrations are a strong visual confirmation of the overall simple and modest nature of this inspirational woman.

Needless to say, I cannot recommend it highly enough to readers from around 8 years upwards and for those who undertake units of work on inspirational or significant people this will indeed be a boon.

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Apr16

Forgotten Fairy Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls

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y648

Harper Collins Australia

October 2019

  • ISBN: 9781474966429
  • ISBN 10: 147496642X
  • Imprint: Usborne – GB
  • List Price: 24.99 AUD

Just because I took some time to get this one does not in any way indicate a less than worthy addition to your shelves. As readers of this blog would be aware I’m a huge supporter of ‘Mighty Girl’ books and this is certainly one of those.

With a foreword from Kate Pankhurst (descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst) one would expect nothing less than a collection of stories which celebrate “adventurous, intelligent and daring” girls.

Eight stories which are neglected traditional fairy tales which all put girls squarely into the hero’s role including: Snow White and Rose Red, The Wise Princess, The Sleeping Prince and Fearless Fiona and the Spellbound Knight.

It is of course as an Usborne book beautifully presented with striking illustrations and embellishments throughout and would make a delicious gift for a young girl of your acquaintance.

If you are building up your collection of inspiring books for girls – or perhaps books to share with both genders to illustrate that heroes come in all variations –  this is a wonderful addition to your shelves.

Highly recommended for readers from around 7 years upwards.

Apr12

Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet – Kate Pankhurst

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9781408899298

Bloomsbury Australia

March 2020

ISBN:9781408899298
Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

RRP: $14.99

Emmeline Pankhurst must look over her descendant Kate very proudly as she brings to light the stories of so many ‘mighty girls’ to young readers. In this, the third in her series, Kate informs her audience of such outstanding and well-known environmentalists as Jane Goodall and Anita Roddick along with others not so famous such as Aboriginal elders Eileen Kampakuta Brown and Eileen Wani Wingfield who led the campaign to stop the government dumping nuclear waste on their traditional country near Woomera. Many of our students know very well Greta Thunberg’s name and work but for most these equally determined and passionate women will be new names.

Each double spread is packed with facts and vivid illustrations as the twelve superstars of the planet are introduced to the readers and will speak volumes to a young audience who proves themselves repeatedly as equally concerned and respectful of our planet. As an extra a useful list of definitions is included at the end of the book.

There is also a companion activity book which would be a super addition to value add to this title.

Whether you already have mini-conservationists in your circle or are promoting and advocating for the environment this would make a very impressive addition to your collection.

Highly recommended for readers from around eight years upwards.

Jan15

Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror – Natasha Farrant/Lydia Corry

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y648 (3)

Harper Collins

November 2019

ISBN: 9781788541152

ISBN 10: 1788541154

Imprint: Head Of Zeus – Zehpyr – GB

List Price: 29.99 AUD

Whether you are looking for alternative princesses or fairy tales or just looking for a beautiful book for the Mighty Girls in your readership this stunning gift book ticks all the boxes.

When an enchantress prepares for a new princess’ naming day saying she promises to ensure that the new little girl will become an ‘excellent’ princess, she needs to determine what in fact that means.

According to some it’s clean fingernails, manners, being pretty and kind to animals but the enchantress feels it’s so much more than just that. Her magic mirror is really not that much help but she knows a way to solve that problem and shrinks the large mirror to a pocket-sized compact and so its adventures begin.

Picked up by the first princess and travelling through time, place and misadventure over centuries the mirror becomes an important talisman for a eight different girls, each with their own strengths and energetic personalities who demonstrate courage, intelligence, compassion and love with big hearts and a burning desire to live life to its very best whatever that may be.

When the mirror returns finally to the old enchantress both have learned something valuable and lasting and the new princess will undoubtedly benefit from their wisdom.

This is truly a beautiful book both to read and behold – the colourful illustrations lend a real insight into each different princess and the absolutely glorious binding will make it a treasure for any recipient.

Mirror, mirror on the wall… what makes a princess excellent?’ The enchantress’s mirror travels through time, from east to west, to find the answer. Reflected in it are princesses who refuse to be pretty, polite or obedient. These are girls determined to do the rescuing themselves. The Arabian princess of the desert protects her people from the king with the black and gold banner; Latin American Princess, Tica, takes a crocodile for a pet; a Scottish princess explores the high seas; African Princess, Abayome, puts empathy and kindness above being royal; and in a tower-block, Princess saves her precious community garden from the hands of greedy urban developers. {Publisiher}

Highly recommended for readers from 8 years upwards.

Sep22

The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare – Shannon Hale & Dean Hale. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

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black

Penguin Random House

Hardcover | $14.99
Published by Candlewick
Sep 25, 2018

ISBN 9780763688271

Without a doubt this series is one of the most popular with our newly independent readers. There is rarely a copy left in the series box and also sold out rapidly at our recent book fair.  They are not just the right level for these readers but have some vibrant illustrations and contain some great incidental information or concepts.

As one might guess by this title this one has some very useful science embedded in the wacky story line of a volcano experiment gone wrong after having some monster hair added to its mix. Luckily Princess Magnolia forgets her nervousness about her seeds and plants poster, zips into her Princess in Black alter-ego and along with her scientifically minded princess friends is able to resolve the problem satisfactorily.

This series has shed an entirely new light on princesses (they are far removed from the Disney variety) with resourcefulness, resilience and cooperation to the fore and also embrace an inclusive slant with their depiction of the various girls.

All in all it has a lot to offer for young readers with fun as well as some great values.

Highly recommended for readers from around six years upwards.

Feb14

Shout Out to the Girls: A Celebration of Awesome Australian Women

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shoutout

Penguin Random House

9780143789420

February 26, 2018

Random House Australia Children’s

RRP $29.99

 

What a fantastic book to add to your “Mighty Girl” collection! Covering a diverse selection of outstanding women from diverse fields of achievement and endeavor, this is a worthy addition to any primary or lower secondary collection.

The layout is particularly attractive with a palette of gorgeous colours and each subject with a ‘shout out’ to the person and the reason, a quote that relates followed by a double spread page of information and facing portrait.

There are women from our past as well as those at the forefront of their field now. Here you will find Edith Cowan and Louise Mack, Rachel Perkins and Stella Young, Jessica Watson and Vivian Bullwinkel and so many more – fifty in all.

This is a really beautiful book to savour and  conveys so much positivity to readers about the limitless potential of women to succeed.  As well all proceeds from royalties go to the Smith Family which is a terrific initiative.

Highly recommended for readers aged from around ten years up to sixteen.