Amazing Babes: A Picture Book for Kids & Adults by Eliza Sarlos and Grace Lee, and published by Scribe, is a truly gorgeous picture book. Reviewing this book with my two children, a girl and boy aged eight and four years respectively, was a complete delight.
The hard cover picture book features twenty feminist icons. Each icon is beautifully drawn by Grace Lee and their picture is accompanied by a simple statement highlighting a personal trait of theirs that will most inspire children. These statements express charming wishes like, “I want the curiosity of Hedy Lamarr” and “I want to find ways to explore like Frida Kahlo”.
The range of women included is impressively broad and crosses from the most contemporary, like Tavi Gevinson and Malala Yousafzai, to others from history such as Emma Goldman. Notably for me, the book also includes a couple of Australian figures (eg. Mum Shirl and Miles Franklin). Amazing Babes manages to avoid the disappointment of so many other feminist texts which all but ignore women from outside the Anglosphere, so women like Vandana Shiva and Aung San Suu Kyi are also here.
There’s a fair bit of diversity in terms of age, race, nationality and area of expertise across the icons profiled but no list of feminist icons is going to meet everyone’s approval. I am sure some readers will wonder why particular favourites weren’t included, though the book encompasses big stars like Gloria Steinem and Audre Lorde, and given the age of mothers with young children, Kathleen Hanna is certain to be a popular inclusion.
The style of illustration greatly appealed to my children, who as I noted above, range in age from 4 to 8 years. They found the book enormously intriguing and I would encourage parents to offer it both to sons as well as daughters. In fact, the author of the book originally wrote the collection for her own son. The beauty of this book is that it can be read to children of various ages with younger children simply enjoying the illustrations and growing familiarity with famous names and older children being able to go on and research further those women who particularly inspire them.
At the back of the book is a full list of the twenty icons and a more complete description of each woman and her accomplishments. I have only one criticism of the book and it is with this section. This text is not written in an always accessible way for young readers who would otherwise be drawn to the book. For instance, “While working as a feminist, Miles also devoted herself to cultivating a uniquely Australian voice within Australian literature” – it’s not exactly a jargonistic sentence but it is beyond a lot of primary school beginner readers. The descriptions could also have benefited from a pronunciation guide for the women’s names, some of which won’t be immediately familiar to all readers. However, this is a small bone to pick with what is really a very special book. There are simply not enough of these kinds of books being written for children and I hope this one finds plenty of success.
And finally… there are three copies available for give-away to readers of blue milk, if you’re interested in entering the competition simply leave a comment below (with a valid email address) and I will randomly draw three names within the fortnight. The publishers have put no limits on regions for entry so please feel free to enter regardless of which country you live in.
In accordance with disclosure guidelines, please note that I was sent a copy of this book for review by the publisher.
What a great practical resource for feminist parenting!
Oh bother, forgot my email address!
tamiesusan [at] gmail [dot] com
This looks and sounds incredibly interesting. I love the drawings and the simple, uncluttered statements from the women. It seems as though it would be a great book to stimulate conversation and ideas. I’m starting a weekly “rating” of children’s books on my own site, http://yourbabynannynyc.wordpress.com/
yourbabynannynyc@gmail.com
Reblogged this on yourbabynanny and commented:
In a similar vein to my last post, Blue Milk reviewed this new children’s book, which, provides illustrations and thoughts from prominent feminist women.
This sounds perfect for my five yo son and I to share!
I have two daughters and have struggled with how to introduce feminism formally in a way that they can understand (aside from being an empowered role model myself!)
Oh, I would love this book for my son!
Oops, forgot my email too: michelle.tarno@gmail.com
Wow – I’d love to read this with my daughters.
My 17 year old has finally found her feminist voice(and all these years I didn’t think she was listening to me!) and this book would rock her world. Thank you for your blog.
this looks amazing! what a treat to grow up with such strong voices in one’s mind.
The perfect Christmas gift for my nieces! I will also definitely be getting a copy for my own daughter–she is just 2 months old now, but I look forward to introducing her to lots of feminist heroes as she grows older and learning with her–I’ve enjoyed learning all about Mum Shirl myself today! Talulamacioce@yahoo.com.
Looks gorgeous! Would love to share with my daughters and son. charlottedototteratthyphenonlinedotde
This book sounds wonderful, I’d love to share it with my two daughters. Count me in! tami1000atgmaildotcom
Great book! The illustrations seem strongly influenced by Maira Kalman?
Would love this book for my son!
Sounds a great book. I am a mum of three girls, and that looks like a great springboard for some excellent chats. I have been enjoying your blog for a while but never commented before.
I would love to share this book with my son, and will buy it if I don’t win it here! Thank you for sharing.
Wow. As a newish feminist, I want this as much for myself as for my son.
Also love your blog generally 🙂
Genevievecsinclair@gmail.com
Me please! I expect my email will show up in your comment moderation.
Great book – thanks for the introduction to another fabulous read.
I’d love a copy please! Thanks for the review, it will be on the Christmas list for sure!
A fabulous sounding book. Thanks for reviewing it and bringing it to my attention. I’d love to add it to my son’s bookshelf – thanks for the opportunity to be in the draw!
rivkahali@gmail.com
Perfect Xmas present for our new 5 month old cousin Hugo! Thanks for the review- books are a great idea for ALL the cousins.
Freddieblabla@me.com
I heard Eliza talk about this at NYWF and everyone in the room wanted a copy there and then!
This book sounds fantastic. Would love to share it with my 2 daughters and son. jj78@indiana.edu
This book sounds incredible! I’d love to share it with my daughter. My email address is joselle [dot] palacios [at] gmail [dot] com. Thanks for the opportunity!
I love the illustration style, and this would be a great book to share with my son. It’s so cool that she was inspired to share feminism with her son! Knitted underscore monster at hotmail dot com 🙂
Pick me!
Exciting! I’m in – naomi.eve@gmail.com (on behalf of me and my 2 year old)
Thanks for this review. I have both a daughter and a son and I think both would love this book (as would I — I will forever want the moxie of Kathleen Hanna)
Ah yes meredithrg@gmail.com
Can the Clare Court Playgroups go in the running to win one of these books please! We’d be so very excited if we were lucky! Thank you 🙂
I would love to add this to our bookshelf n1shell@hotmail.com
Looks lovely! Would like this to start up my baby-boy-to-be’s library, not to mention I’d love it for myself. Include me in your giveaway choices: priscilla.blossom@gmail.com
[…] Ultra-rad feminist mom blogger Blue Milk is giving away three copies of Amazing Babes. Check out her review and the images of the book to see if it’s your thing, and if so, leave […]
My book-obsessed 18 month old boy & I would love a copy of this book!
This book looks amazing.
I, and my children and nieces, would love a book like this!
fingers crossed x
lucilanewell@gmail.com
This would be a great book to start reading now with my two-year-old and to allow her to grow into!
Love your blog and have recommended it to many friends. Thank you for offering the chance to win such a wonderful book.
Thank you so much for the opportunity – I’d love to read this with my two and a half year old son. And thank you too, while I’m at it, for the great feeling of solidarity I’ve had in reading your blog since his birth. At many points in time, it’s been just what I needed. chellie [at] adam [dot] com [dot] au.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this beautiful book, good luck everyone!
I started wanting a copy of this book before I got to the giveaway bit at the end of your review. My kids are probably too old for it, but I have a nephew it would be perfect for 🙂
agathadarling [at] yahoo.com
Oh, please enter me – thank you.
steve.kerri [at] vodafone [dot] co.nz
looks like a fab book 🙂
Three kiwi girls here who would love sharing this book and goading each other on with “who is on your favourite page ? ” thanks for sharing donnaatontheinternetconz
Pick me, pick me ;-).
Yes, this book sounds a must read, and perfect for my two little girls.
Thanks for the competition, and for the blog – your honesty and vulnerability is inspiring.
I’d love to have this book!
Ahh, eu quero!!! Minha filha vai adorar!!
renatacampista@gmail.com
I would love this book for my girls (5 and 2).
ehawkes at iinet dot net dot au
I’d love to win a copy!
Oh, this gives me great hope! would love a copy to read with my son. best from Sweden!
lisa (dot) nyberg (at) gmail (dot) com
This would be a perfect holiday gift!
Amazing Babes sounds awesome. I would love to give my kids a copy for xmas; and yeah, the Kathleen Hanna page hooked me! Even if I don’t win I think I’m going to have to get this book. Thanks for discovering it for me 🙂
I cannot contain my excitement that this book is in existence! I am both and art history and gender studies major as well as a single mother to a 20 month old boy. Amazing Babes would be a wonderful book for me to tuck into my purse/backpack for our train rides to school or for times when I would like to share important feminist ideas to my son. I would love to ad this to our library!
whitnichills@live.com is my e-mail. Thank you for the review as well as the opportunity to read your blog! I found this blog at a time when I really needed it.
Whitney
thanks for offering
girl_y_girl99(at)yahoo(dot)com
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[…] used a random number generator to select three replies to my review of Amazing Babes, and so these people each win a copy of the book from the […]
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