I cannot let March pass without sharing some books that teach women's history. In this time where our current administration is trying to erase all history besides white man's history these types of books are even more important as are the various history/heritage months. March is Women's History Month, but I truly feel women's history should be taught all year round. It is part of the history of the world and let's face it there cannot be humans without women. Today's books are going to introduce you to two American women who I honestly never heard of prior to reading these books. There are so many women who did things for the world but that we never hear about because of how our history is taught. The first book is A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister and illustrated by Jamie Green. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.
From the Publisher:
A sweeping picture book biography about influential Japanese American sculptor Aiko Ruth Asawa and her childhood spent in an incarceration camp, by award-winning author Caroline McAlister and rising star artist Jamie Green.Growing up on a dusty farm in Southern California, Ruth Aiko Asawa lived between two worlds. She was Aiko to some and Ruth to others, an invisible line she balanced on every day.
But when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, suddenly she was only Aiko, no matter how much her family tried to cut the lines that connected them to Japan. Like many other Japanese Americans, Ruth and her family were sent to incarceration camps.
At the Santa Anita racetrack, Ruth ran her fingers over the lines of horsehair in the stable stalls the family had moved into. At the Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas, she drew what she saw—bayous, guard towers, and the barbed wire that separated her from her old life.
That same barbed wire would inspire Ruth’s art for decades, as she grew into one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Throughout her career, she created enchanting twisting sculptures and curving shapes that connected, divided, and intersected.
This gorgeous biography delves into the magnificent life of Ruth Asawa and her timeless contributions to the art world.
From Me:
As I said I had never heard of Ruth Asawa. I am guessing it is because I live on the east coast. As I read this book, I learned so much. Ruth lived through World War II and the Japanese American encampment. It was such an awful time in our history and I'm glad there are books like this to remind us of just how awful our own history is. This book shares about her life there and how the first encampment was actually in a way a special time for her because she learned art from some Japanese American artists that worked for companies like Disney. I was also surprised to hear that some of the college aged Japanese Americans were able to attend college during this time. Ruth was one of them however she did not get her degree as she could not complete her final year since the college deemed it unsafe for her to student teach since so many people were prejudice against Japanese people.
I love how this book sees the lines connecting one's life and explains them. Ruth saw lines breaking as her life went on, but she also found ways to bring them full circle. I find it so interesting how she used the barbed wire for so many of her sculptures. The barbed wire she saw for several years surrounding her prison. Based on her life, Ruth learned that art could be anywhere and not just in a museum as she originally thought. She pushed for her work to be seen by anyone including people on the street. She even had children and people off the street help her on at least one of her sculptures. She wanted to teach children that they are artists even if there works don't hang in a museum (or gallery). She had such an amazing view of the world and still wanted to give back to the country that mistreated her and her family. What an amazing woman! She even fought for the arts in public education and has a public high school for the arts named after her in San Francisco.
This book is perfect for a lesson on Ruth Asawa or as part of an artist unit. It is also perfect for Women's History Month. It is also a great book for a World War II unit and the life of the Japanese Americans. At the end of the book there is the Author's Note that goes into more details about her and her family's life due to the war and there is a selected bibliography. For more information about Ruth Asawa and to see pictures of her actual work, check out her website.
Our next book shares the interesting story of Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, a Latvian Jewish immigrant who took a bet that a woman could ride a bicycle around the world like Thomas Stevens did in 1886. Her challenge paved the way for women in many sports and more. The book is Pedal Pusher: How One Woman's Bicycle Adventure Helped Change the World by Mary Boone and illustrated by Lisa Anchin. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
From the Publisher:
Annie Cohen Kopchovsky was ready to ride her bicycle.Not to the market.
Not around the block.
Not across town.
Annie was going to ride her bike all the
way around the world.
In 1894, when two men bet that a woman could never bicycle around the world, as a man had done, Annie set out to prove them wrong, despite not knowing how to ride a bike.
Dressed in a long skirt, she began her journey in Boston. It wasn’t easy, but Annie never gave up. Her adventure brought her attention in every place she visited along the way, and she loved it all. She told many stories--about hunting tigers, dodging bullets, socializing with royalty, and serving time in a Japanese prison--and some of them were probably not true. But she did ride all the way around the world. And she changed the way that the world thought about what women were capable of doing.
Filled with captivating illustrations of the incredible globe-spanning journey, this celebratory picture book tells the story of an unsung feminist icon, the marvelous and resilient Annie Cohen Kopchovsky.
From Me:
Even though Annie began her bicycle adventure at the Massachusetts State House, I never had heard her story. She was a Latvian Jewish immigrant and mother of three young children. Yet she heard the challenge and accepted it. It was a bet. She had to leave her children with her husband and was traveling the world when there was high prejudice against Jewish people. She also didn't know how to ride a bicycle. She however had two short lessons and was ready for her adventure. She set off in Boston dressed in a long skirt and high-collared blouse and hat. Part of the bet was she had to start with no money and earn $5000 along the way and she needed to complete the trip in less than 15 months. The first $100 earned was Londonberry Lithia Spring Water Company. She fastened a banner to her bicycle and changed her name to Annie Londonberry for the ride. She pedaled her way for three months and made it as far as Chicago. There she realized her clothing was not going to work for this adventure. She was worried about making it across the country before the snow began to fall.
After some rest she went to the Sterling Cycle Company. This company gave her a new bicycle which weighed much less. She also traded in her long skirt for bloomers. She pedaled back to New York City and there she traveled by steamship to Europe. She pedaled across France then took a ship to Egypt. With more ships and trains she visited India, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Russia and Japan. Then she took a steamship to San Francisco. She rode across the United States and completed the adventure exactly fifteen months after she began. She came back with many stories to tell. Some believe she made some of them up and exaggerated others. However, her adventure changed how the world viewed women. Annie showed Women could be athletes and promoters. She also showed all of this was possible even when a woman was a mother.
At the end of the book there is information about how the bicycle provided women with freedom. They for the first time had a way to get around beside walking which they did not need to depend on a man. This book is a wonderful celebration of women, women's rights and women's sports. It is perfect for a story time read aloud, bedtime story or for the history of women's sports and women's rights.
I love how each of these books shared a resilient woman who made a place in history. They each fought for themselves, their rights as well as the rights of others and their lives made a difference. I hope you will check out each of these books and keep sharing the story of amazing women with our kids!
