Bloomsbury Children’s Books ISBN: 9781408899298 £6.99
This is the fourth in a fantastic series of books about inspirational women, often pioneers in their field, who have worked tirelessly to protect some precious aspect of the natural environment. Each double-page spread contains biographical and career highlights along with colourful cartoon illustrations, characters with speech bubbles, notes and clever paths or arrows to direct the reader around the packed page with its range of fonts and print sizes. We learn about Isatou Geesay and her women’s initiative in The Gambia, meteorologist Edith Farkas who discovered the thinning ozone layer, Ingeborg Belling’s study of bees which led to an understanding of circadian rhythms which affect us all and the marine biologist Eugenie Clark whose last dive in 2014 was at the age of 94!
Personally, I knew only three of the women discussed and yet an understanding of the dangers of deforestation, a ban on CFCs, a growth in solar energy and a deeper understanding and respect for sharks, chimpanzees and elephants are just some of the important outcomes from their work. This is an attractive, accessible and enjoyable book to dip into or read all the way through. Pankhurst’s distant relative has undoubtedly influenced this writer and now these books should be read throughout KS2, (aged 7-11), to redress the balance of understanding about influential women in our world as well as perhaps inspire the next remarkable young woman.
Sue Barrett