Fantastically Great Women Who Chan­ged the World is a non-fiction children’s picture book, which highlights the achievements of some of the most important women in history. The book is filled with interesting facts about notable women in a variety of fields, including literature, science, politics and fashion etc.

The author, Kate Pankhurst, has used interesting information and appealing illustrations about the contribution of these women in their respective fields — and more importantly, it rightly points out how these women helped change the world.

After the success of ‘Mariella Mystery Series’, Kate has put together an illustrative masterpiece this time around, which celebrates the achievement of women in modern history. The book was nominated for the legendary Cilip Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Award in 2018.

The random order of women discussed in the book may baffle the not-so-avid reader. From the contributions of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel and how she popularized the black dress and pyjamas amongst women; to how Frida Kahlo’s paintings symbolise the importance of family, her Mexican heritage and her love for pets; it sure keeps the reader guessing about the next page.

The courage and determination of Rosa Parks during the civil rights movement in the United States will help to understand how the North American society has evolved — and an analytical parent may also be able to point out how this has affected other societies too. Her activism and commitment to the cause helped pave the way to end the dreaded bus segregation laws in the 1950s.

Who knew polonium and radium glow and are radioactive? I didn’t.Marie Curie, the only woman to have won the Nobel Prize twice, discovered the two elements. In her quest to find a cure for serious illnesses, she became a victim of her own discovery and died of radiation poisoning.

Although the book is meant for children, the quality of information and history makes it an interesting read for people of all ages. The book can serve as a go-to guide during discussions on contributions of women in science, feminism and equality. And for parents who want to improve their child’s knowledge of history, science, literature, travel and other things, this surely makes for a great night-time read-aloud book. Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World makes a great gift for young boys too in a man’s world!

The interesting artwork in the book is enough to hold the reader’s interested and the compilation of quotes and life mantras from these amazing women and a glossary of terms used in the book, ensure that there is little comprehension problems. The glossary will come in handy in finding out the origin of dinosaurs or the contribution of Emmeline Pankhurst — also the writer’s distant relative — to contemporary politics.

One may argue that the book covers the achievement of only a handful of women throughout history, but the quality of information and its relevance to modern society makes it a worthwhile read.

All in all, it teaches children to follow their dreams and be courageous. The achievement of these women is sure to inspire young girls, as well as boys, to persevere and work hard. The book empowers and encourages the readers to reach their full potential and realise their dreams.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 18th, 2020