Shana Corey

Shana Corey, whose picture-book biographies - Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story Of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way To Fame, Fortune & Swimsuit History!, You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer - tend to focus on women who were pioneers in some way, stays true to form in this latest offering, which examines the founding of the Girl Scouts in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. Known as "Daisy" to her friends and family, Low rejected many of the notions of feminine girlhood that were show more prevalent when she was young, more interested in having adventures outdoors than in being prim and proper. Growing up to be just as adventurous as an adult, she eventually discovered the scouting movement, while living in England, and brought it back with her to America, founding the very first Girl Scout troupe in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia in 1912.

Informative and engaging, Here Come the Girl Scouts! doesn't just provide a glimpse of the founding of this important institution of girlhood, it demonstrates why it was needed in the first place. Quotations from the original Girl Scout manual, emphasizing the importance of getting out into the natural world, and challenging oneself physically, are included on many of the pages, and are contrasted with the Victorian notions of delicate girlhood. The moral component of the scouting movement is also discussed - the notion of being a sister to all girls, regardless of social status, for instance - and I was interested to see that there were diverse troupes from early on, although the Girl Scouts did not embrace integration until many decades later. The artwork is colorful and appealing, capturing the sense of fun and adventure in the story. Recommended to young readers interested in the history of the Girl Scouts, or who are looking for stories about path-breaking women. show less

One of the most wonderful thing about books clubs (aside from the opportunity to discuss books with other readers, of course!), is that they sometimes lead us to titles we might not otherwise have considered picking up. Such is certainly the case with Shana Corey's The Mermaid Queen, a picture-book biography of Annette Kellerman, an Australian woman who revolutionized the world of women's athletics and swimwear. "Mermaids? Women's fashion? Not for me!," I thought. But I couldn't have been show more more wrong! This is the history, as Corey notes, of a woman who wasn't afraid to be different, whose lifestyle itself was an act of defiance - a woman who "made waves." And that is definitely for me...

Forced to wear leg braces as a child, as the result of an unspecified illness, Annette was encouraged to swim by her father, who believed that the activity would improve her strength and health. Her devotion to the sport, in a time when few women were encouraged to participate in athletics, led both to fame and censure (even arrest!), as some found the activity "unwomanly." A dramatic swim up the Thames, an unsuccessful attempt to cross the English Channel, and the creation of an unusual new one-piece bathing suit - so much more comfortable than the complicated swimming clothing worn by women of the day - soon led to fame, and Annette Kellerman became a well-known proponent of women's health and fitness.

Credited with inventing synchronized swimming (she gave the first water ballet performance in New York, in 1907), and the modern woman's bathing suit, Kellerman was a celebrity in her day, although she is largely forgotten in ours. I enjoyed learning about her unconventional life, and found Edwin Fotheringham's accompanying illustrations - with their delightful use of color and motion - the perfect accompaniment to the story. How fortunate that The Mermaid Queen was chosen as one of our March selections for the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, as I might otherwise have missed a real treat! show less

How could I not want to read The Secret Subway by Shana Corey while I'm living in New York City? Truthfully, it wasn't the setting of the story that drew me in. It was the front cover illustration by Red Nose Studio aka Chris Sickels that really caught my eye. His artwork reminds me of old school claymation. His creations are sculpted using materials found around his home and he makes not only books but stop motion animation with them. The Secret Subway is a fictionalized account of the show more creation of the New York Subway system. The imaginative inventiveness of Eli Beach is factual as is his idea of a subterranean transit system fueled by a pneumatic system. (Picture a giant fan pushing a train car and then reversing its flow to suck the car back the way it had come!) It's the minute details which have been slightly fudged by Corey to liven up the tale (which honestly doesn't really need much embellishment). The back of the book contains the facts of the event which I urge you to read as they are fascinating. It's so amazing seeing what the human imagination can create! This was a visually impressive book but if I'm honest it didn't really WOW me. I'd give it a solid 6/10 but if you're interested in the art (you will be) I urge you to check it out for yourself. show less

Daisy Low was an eccentric woman in the Victorian age, with her love for the outdoors and sense of adventure. She traveled all over the world and did many exciting things, but she was looking for a sense of purpose. When she traveled to England and saw the Boy Scout organization and its' Girl Guides offshoot, she was inspired to create her own version for American girls. Daisy's began working hard to found what will later become the Girl Scout organization that exists today. Some people show more disapproved of an organization encouraging young girls to exercise, spend time outdoors, and learn outdoor skills, but the Girl Scouts still grew rapidly. This organization retains its original values still of diversity, inclusion, a belief that girls can do anything, and a passion for the environment. This was a well-written book telling the story of an organization that many kids are familiar with. I really liked the writing style and loved the illustrations, as they were both very playful and highlighted Daisy's passion and adventurous spirit. show less