Jess Rinker

Gloria Steinem learns to listen to others and then take what she hears to grow a women's movement to gain more rights for everyone.

I really wanted to like this book and figured I would based on the subject and having read another picture book biography by the same author. However, I found this one just kind of dull. It felt like work to get through it, as the text had nothing particularly compelling to sell it (i.e., it wasn't lyrical or rhyming or really anything noteworthy).

The author's show more note at the back seemed to say more about Steinem's work and accomplishments than the main text did. Oftentimes that is the case in children's picture book biographies/histories because the text is kept short and simple whereas back matter has way more details. Here, the main text was somehow still wordy without saying much of anything while the author's note was relatively short but more to the point.

Also, I really disliked the illustrations with oddly distorted humans. The illustrator's note explains how she intentionally put Steinem off center on most page spreads to emphasis her listening, and how she chose a bright palette to emphasize hope and optimism. That made me appreciate the decision-making more but I still didn't care for the illustrations.

Backmatter concludes with a timeline of women's rights in the U.S., which was frankly depressing given that today, a mere 6 to 7 years after this book was published, some of these have actually been revoked (e.g., Roe v. Wade) or are being hotly debated by those who have the power to revoke them (e.g., women in military combat roles). This isn't a fault of the book but it still means that something meant to be uplifting and optimistic had the opposite effect. show less

Gloria takes a stand is a great book about Gloria Steinem. This booki ntroduces Gloria and where she comes from. It talks about where she went to college and how she defied the odds when women were supposed to get married and have children. Gloria stood up and protested a lot of issues to make equal rights for women and changed a lot of things that affect women today.

"Gr 2–5—Born in the mid-1930s, Gloria Steinem began her life in an era when rights for various classes of people were limited. As her father was an itinerant antiques dealer, Steinem yearned for a permanent home so she could make friends and go to school, which became possible only after her parents divorced. She distinguished herself as a student and after graduating from Smith College, began a career in journalism. From that point on, Steinem pursued a life working toward social show more justice. The author skillfully conveys Steinem's endeavors and the qualities that have undergirded her drive. Every few pages, in bold italic font, the author summarizes a period in Steinem's life with three short sentences, such as "Gloria listened. She watched. And wrote," often preceded or followed by a popular quote. The artwork, done in watercolor and accented with black sumi ink, conveys what the illustrator explains in the back matter as, "bright skies…during marches and protests, as if the universe champions her work amid the struggle." This is a great read for younger kids who want to be inspired to make positive change in the world. Pair it with Debbie Levy's I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark (Steinem and Ginsburg were born a year apart). VERDICT An excellent picture book biography about a courageous activist, advocate, and leader.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID" From School Library Journal show less