Kamala Harris /

New Biographies for Kids About Trailblazing Women of Color – Women’s History Month

Publishing just in time for Women’s History Month (March)  National Geographic Kids Books is debuting three new biographies that feature three game-changing, inspirational women of color who have made an indelible mark on the world.

Speak Up, Speak Out! The Extraordinary Life of Fighting Shirley Chisholm, by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Tonya Bolden with a forward by voting rights activist and current Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, is a middle grade/middle school title that is already receiving rave early reviews.  A daughter of immigrants, Shirley Chisholm’s story is remarkable — she battled racism and sexism, broke barriers and made history.  Shirley boldly spoke up for what was right and changed the political landscape by becoming the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by a historic run for President.  And while the presidential campaign trail in 1972 did not end in victory, Shirley Chisholm shows us how you can make change happen when you speak up and speak out.
 
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This winter, the critically acclaimed National Geographic Readers series introduces the youngest readers to two modern-day women who, like Shirley Chisholm, are also political pioneers.   National Geographic Readers: Kamala Harris and National Geographic Readers: Stacey Abrams are both fully illustrated Level 2 readers penned by African American writers whose age-appropriate text bring these women — and their accomplishments — to life, helping the youngest of readers better understand who these headline makers are.  

    

 
 

National Geographic Readers: Kamala Harris (L2) by Tonya K. Grant  (National Geographic Kids Books, ages 5-8, Jan 2022, PB $4.99) Explore one of the most powerful and highest-ranking female figures in American history with this biography of Vice President Kamala Harris in this Level 2 reader.  On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris made history. That day, she became the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected as Vice President of the United States. Young readers will learn about Harris’s childhood, her early career, and her journey that led to winning the vice presidency. This early reader also explores how Harris devoted her life to helping others, from serving as the Attorney General of California, to being elected as a U.S. Senator, to working alongside President Joe Biden on the campaign trail and in the White House.

About the Author: Tonya K. Grant is an elementary school librarian and an active member of the #BlackCreatorsinKidLit community. She is committed to promoting reading and strives to inspire all children to read and see themselves in books. She lives in McDonough, Georgia with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Twitter – @TKGrant1

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