SHE PERSISTED: HARRIET TUBMAN, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Chelsea Clinton , et al., Philomel Books, Jan. 5, 2021, Paperback, $5.99 (ages 6-9)
Chelsea Clinton’s popular She Persisted picture book expands to chapter books with She Persisted: Harriet Tubman.
Born enslaved, Harriet Tubman rose up to become one of the most successful, determined and well-known conductors of the Underground Railroad. With her family’s love planted firmly in her heart, Harriet looked to the North Star for guidance–and its light helped guide her way out of slavery. Her courage made it possible for her to help others reach freedom too. —Synopsis provided by Philomel Books
The She Persisted books celebrate women who have overcome challenges and triumphed. This new chapter series focuses on women profiled in She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World. A new book written by award-winning and bestselling authors will be released each month. The books feature Harriet Tubman (Andrea Davis Pinkney), Claudette Colvin (Lesa Cline-Ransome), Sally Ride (Atia Abawi), Virginia Apgar (Sayantani DasGupta), Nellie Bly (Michelle Knudsen), Sonia Sotomayor (Meg Medina), Florence Griffith Joyner (Rita Williams-Garcia), Ruby Bridges (Kekla Magoon), Clara Lemlich (Deborah Heiligman), Margaret Chase Smith (Ruby Shamir), Maria Tallchief (Christine Day), Helen Keller (Courtney Sheinmel), and Oprah Winfrey (Renée Watson).
The chapter books are being released monthly in hardcover ($14.99) and paperback ($5.99) editions at the same time.
Though my 6-year-old is capable of reading this series on her own, she asked that we read She Persisted: Harriet Tubman together. I’m glad we did. My daughter has a basic understanding of what slavery was/is, but the idea of owning a person is still hard for her to grasp. Reading it together allowed for conversation throughout. My daughter and I both asked each other questions, and I was able to provide further context when needed. An older reader may not need this attention, but as a parent, it was a meaningful experience worth my time.
This series is pretty much a no brainer for boys and girls alike. Even though the books are geared for girls, it’s important for boys to see women in this positive light, too. That said, the books will really appeal to young girls. My daughter loved the picture book, and seeing the stories expanded only helps to confirm she can accomplish great things.
My daughter loved She Persisted: Harriet Tubman so much that I’ve preordered the next 4 books. That means a new one will arrive at our house the first day or two of each month. It’s going to be a great surprise!
