Written by Anita B. Adhikary
Illustrated by Blythe Russo
This book is an interesting alphabet book full of empowering words for boys and girls but is focused on girls —young and old, culturally diverse, interacting with each other and with men and boys, able-bodied and differently abled. It pictures girls in situations from friendship to studying to camping to zip lining. Some of the words include: witty, sincere, tenacious, empathetic, confident, and fit.
Here are words of the author, Anita Adhikary, explaining her rationale for writing this children’s book.
“My purpose for writing this book is to empower women. I have witnessed first hand the unfair treatment of girls in many Eastern cultures. Sons are often considered prized possessions but not daughters. The irony is, women are basically the pillars of the house, society, and community. Similarly, in the West, I have seen too many options for girls that only emphasize princess-culture: pretty, pink, and glittery objects that don’t encourage a lot of substance.”
While we know that one children’s book will not change a worldwide culture of inequality, it can help chip away at the stereotypes that many girls and women have grown up with. It is a book worth having in your school or home library.
Tomorrow’s Child / April 2014 / p 22
