Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

by Vashti Harrison

Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations.

Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come.

Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Biography, History, Childrens, Feminism, Middle Grade

88 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2017

About the author

Vashti Harrison, author and illustrator of the bestselling Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, is an artist, author, and filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. She earned her MFA in film and video from California Institute of the Arts, where she snuck into animation and illustration classes to learn from Disney and DreamWorks legends. There she rekindled a love for drawing and painting. Now she uses her love for both film and illustration to craft beautiful stories for children.

Reviews

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.



This lovely little book sparks an interest in learning more about these forty remarkable African American women who defied oppression, followed their dreams, and changed the world.

[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! This is one I happened to pick up as it was sent to my library from the book selector gods (may they ever be so kind). The artwork caught my eye and I decided to take a better look. Best decision I’ve made in a long time.



This is a nonfiction book where the author wrote about a black female leader in history and then illustrated a picture of them. I loved reading about all the trailblazing women in this book, some I had never even heard of until I read about them in here. I’m also in love with the author’s illustrations, I immediately went and stalked her on etsy to see what she had for sale.

If you have a child in your life, boy or girl, I highly suggest you purchase this book or check it out from the library for them. It’s a book that young readers need to read and experience.


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[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third illustrated girl power read in less than a year, and, even though I'm giving it four stars, I'd also like to have a little moment to bitch.

I started this girl power journey with Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women and was positively blown away with the original art work (as were my two daughters), but the collection included so many unknown women and omitted so many more obvious choices, I was left scratching my head in confusion. The book held both of my daughters' interest for about 50% of the time.

We then moved on to Chelsea Clinton's brainchild She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World and, though the illustrations were not the stunners of the previous book, they were lovely. However, I was once again left scratching my head over the 13 women who were chosen, (why, why must so many of them be so obscure?), and my 7-year-old had no interest in any of the stories, and my 9-year-old was interested for about 20% of the read.

This week we moved on to Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, and, even though the actual women chosen for this collection made a lot of sense, or more sense than the previous two collections, the “blurbs” felt like they were provided by Wikipedia, and the artwork seemed unoriginal, monotonous, and computer generated in appearance.

The author writes that she designed them [the leaders] to be interchangeable "because I want you, the reader, to see yourself in any one of them, and to feel their strength and possibility in you,” and that's an interesting concept, but both of my daughters yawned openly on the book and all but fell asleep on its pages.

Here's my biggest beef with all three of the books: WHO is the target audience? Are we trying to get Mom to buy copies to share with her daughters? If so, then tailor the women's blurbs to inspire the interest of children. Are we hoping that Mom will buy into the premise of buying them for her daughters, but then secretly enjoy them as part of her own library? If so, then spice up these dull stories!

I have had the rare pleasure of spending part of an evening with Maya Angelou, and I can tell you, it was like having a conversation with a mountain that had just sprouted eyes. My bones vibrated just from sitting across from her. This book reduces her to a page that might as well have said blah, blah, blah.

I have also had the pleasure of studying Zora Neale Hurston, who grew up not far from my university in Florida, and I found her to be one of the most fascinating humans who ever lived. The woman was an absolute enigma! And, again, the text reads blah, blah, blah.

I have reluctantly given all three of these books 4 stars, because I believe in girl power and I like books that promote learning, but if this girl power trend in children's books continues, the authors and illustrators are going to need to work a little harder to earn my stars.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a librarian serving kids for only 13 years (“only” because librarianship is a long-legged profession, and I have many colleagues my age who are celebrating 20 or 25 years already). So I can tell you that it was not that long ago that a little African American girl looking for someone who looked like her in the biography section had to settle for Harriet Tubman or Madam C.J. Walker. That is almost literally true.

In recent years this situation has improved markedly. We have series biographies, picture book biographies, and standalone biographies of Mae Jemison, Shirley Chisholm, Rosa Parks, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Bessie Coleman, Edna Lewis, Josephine Baker, and more and more and more.

And now this book, packed with short, snappy bios of admirable black women that are sure to inspire further research, debuts at #3 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Pay tribute to the black women voters of Alabama by buying this book for the young person on your list this holiday. ANY young person, but especially the little white boy on your list. Let him grow up never thinking that black women are ever to be disregarded, talked over, or trifled with.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each year my family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books. This is book #14 (of 20) of 2018, one of the books for an older audience, probably really middle grades, as each cute cartoon depiction of a black woman is accompanied by biographical text on the facing page. It reminded me of a book of photographs and facing condensed oral histories, I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. I am sure it is still in libraries.

Little Leaders is kid version, and not a narrative, not a typical picture book illustrated story but informational, with single cartoon images. I am sure it would still be available in many libraries.

Lyra (11): 4 stars. I love the stories. They're very long for a little kid book, but still, very inspiring.

Hank (12): 3.5 stars. I liked knowing more about black women's histories.

Harry (13): 3.5 stars. I Too long compared to all the other picture books, but I read some of them, and found them inspirational.

Tara: 4 stars. Non-fiction. Good information for young readers but I thought the length of the stories would have it be grouped in middle grades.

Dave: 3 stars. Lots of inspirational women's stories, which is good and necessary to help kids begin their knowledge of history. Very simple illustrations, just okay. I repeat what others have said above about the category, but that aside, the bios are well-written. Seems like every library should have this book.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book! Buying copies for my nieces...will probably need to buy some copies to donate to area libraries. My mommy is in love with the illustrations, crossing my fingers for a quilt rendition....I'm too emotional, logging off... Full review HERE.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wonderful idea and beautiful images of forty fantastic and inspirational women. I liked the short biographies for each woman, which piqued my interest and enticed me to dig deeper into each woman's life and achievements.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book in hardcover and keep it away from my grandkids unless I can supervise.
My granddaughter thinks every single picture in the book is here.
That's my favorite part.
I don't read it all at once but a biography at a time.
It's a bit over the head of a 3 & 4 yr old but they'll love it when they're older.
The illustrations are gorgeous
I love the history focusing on Black Woman.
I plan to get the one on Black Men as well.
I love this author🤷🏽‍♀️

[Mariah Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a cute, little, quick read. I learned about a lot of women that I have never heard of before :)

"Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come."

[Bree Hill]

This was such a joy. I listened to the audiobook but I’ve seen the artwork online which is PHENOMENAL so I really want to get my hands on the physical book.

I think what I liked the most about this book is how the author ties each woman’s journey and story back to “through adversity” or whatever was standing her way, she still was able to accomplish whatever she did. And I think young women, grown women..women of all ages races backgrounds need to be reminded that. Absolutely loved it!

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved learning about these brave beautiful ladies. each one is so inspiring.

[Flavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering how few children’s books out there feature POC on the cover, that was the initial thing that drew me to this book. The next thing, was the title and how it very much ties into my goal when it comes to teaching my future children about equality for all, as well as feminism (which I suppose can also be categorized under “equality for all”…although I meant that one more for equality for all races? I’m not sure if there is specific terminology that I should be using, but if you know, please share it with me in the comments!)

I will want to teach my children about compassion and strength, and I believe that all other children should be taught about these things as well. This book, therefore, I believe should be found in every household, kindergarten, school library, and public library. While it not only teaches readers about standing up for what’s right, and introducing them to a number of bold black women (out of which, I was only familiar with 4, before picking up this book), it is also well-written, and very nicely illustrated. I really like the style that was used to depict each woman, and how it stayed the same throughout. And I also found that I really enjoyed the colours, as well as how the text and images were laid out!

This book looked beautiful sitting beneath my Christmas tree, and I think that all of the little humans in the world who celebrate Christmas could benefit from finding such a book beneath their tree, or in their stocking! It is my belief that this book is very important, and that we definitely need more books like this. Little humans, and grown humans alike, could stand to learn something from this book. I will be donating my copy to my local library, in the hopes that little humans can borrow and read it from there this holiday season, and for as long as the library chooses to keep it on their shelves thereafter.

[Quinn Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many similar books, and I sometimes shy away from something so specific (targeting a narrow group of people instead of broader), but this is too outstanding to let pass by. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is a collection of 40 one-page biographies of amazing African American women. Author/artist Vashti Harrison pulls from every walk of life--literature, politics, pop culture, athletics, science--to give children a chance to see a hero they can relate to. I was most exited to see Nichelle Nichols I think -- Lt. Uhura from the original Star Trek series. Having her in a book alongside Phyllis Wheatley and Angela Davis and Ruby Bridges -- I love it. The text tells readers about their personal lives, but focus on their accomplishments and why they deserve to be not just remembered, but celebrated. The full-page illustrations are (I don't often use this word) adorable, perfectly complementing the serious text. This is a book that belongs in every elementary classroom and library.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of a better book to read on Martin Luther King Jr. Day - an extremely accessible book full of stories of black women making history - in sometimes quiet but always impactful ways.

Harrison's adorable and iconic illustrations for each black woman in history accompany a short, reader-friendly biography of each woman and her accomplishments. Young readers to old readers can enjoy these stories of amazing women and the illustrations that make them seem real and human.

I especially love that each illustration starts as a "template" with the famous woman's defining features created on top. It purposely creates the sensation that the drawing could be anyone, even the reader.

Harrison is both respectful of all reading levels and brave about adding harder truths about some of these women. She deftly describes their history and important life events (while sometimes painful) in highly empathetic and human ways. She also makes it clear that many of these trailblazers directly influenced other important woman later in the book. It's clear the legacy that seeing and acknowledging people of all backgrounds can have on the lives of people in any age.

Absolutely love it and would recommend it to anyone!

[The Artisan Geek · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/4/19
I loved this book so much! Not only are the illustrations super cute, but the stories were incredibly succinct and lovely! I also really liked how black women who were not very known, but paved the way for many of us got their well deserved spot in this book. Bravo! Would definitely recommend this for any kid :)

31/3/19
In my search to find books that will inspire my little niece to be whatever she aspires to be, I stumbled upon this book and I am so here for it!! Bold black women? YES PLEASE!

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[LynnDee (LynnDee's Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, informative, and inspiring. Perfect addition to any juvenile non-fiction collection.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know a picture book is heavy on the text when it takes almost a month to get through it.

However, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is definitely worth a look. It profiles 40 amazing women and girls who were trailblazers for the African American women who followed in their footsteps. I hadn't heard of many of the women who were featured early on in the book (e.g., Phillis Wheatley, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Mary Bowser), even though their stories are amazing. As the book goes on, we start to see some more familiar names, and by the end, I would imagine that most people will have heard of these women (e.g., Oprah Winfrey, Florence Joyner, Dominique Dawes)... which is great, because it shows that the women making important contributions aren't always ignored or pushed into the shadows as they once were. Still, the fact that many of these names aren't household ones is kind of sad. We've got Civil War spies, scientists who developed cures for nasty diseases, psychologists who studied the impact of racial identification in children... There are just so many stories here, laid out in a series of two-page spreads; there's even a section at the back with mini biographies of a few more women that didn't get included in the book. And, like most good non-fiction titles, this book offers some suggestions for further reading, viewing, and watching.

The illustrations are cute, but will probably be viewed as a little "girly". That said, however, this is a book aimed at girls, so the pictures are likely to find wide appeal. Each spread features a picture of the woman or girl, and the text is embellished with little doodles relating to her life. (Below is Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman in the world to receive a pilot's licence... but she had to go to France to do it!)

Overall, this is a really strong non-fiction title that celebrates the contributions of black women and girls. Because of how much text there is, I'd probably recommend it to middle graders, but it could be a fun book for younger kids to read with a parent in smaller doses.

Quotable moment:

[TammyJo Eckhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had so much fun reading this book together. The "little leaders" are adorable looking yet their clothing, their facial expressions, their postures, the objects they hold and interact with, and their environments were both realistic and symbolic. Sometimes before I read the one page biographical essay I'd ask "What do you think this person did based on what you see?" and my audience almost always guessed correctly we learned as we read.

The text is lively to read and with the help of an adult, a third or fourth grader could read it herself. While entertaining, Harrison has not shied away from historical facts that address racism, sexism, economic hardish, and other important issues that even children should learn about. Yet at no time did we feel sad for long because each of the 40 women in this book was victorious in living her life fully and courageously, often in the service of others. At the end before a brief list of website, books, and recordings we can find to learn more, there is another brief list of 12 other "little leaders" we can learn more about.

I hope that Vashti Harrison continues to put out more books because her writing and her art is inspiring for both of us to read and learn from together.

[Daria Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved this so much.

First off, the illustrations are freaking adorable. Like, I wish I had prints of each of them to hang up in my apartment.

As with Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, I think that everyone should pick this up. The women who's stories are shared are inspiring and incredible. I don't think I have enough words to say how awesome this was.

The only reason why I took a half star off is that I wish it were longer because I'm greedy like that and want to learn more.

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be informative and educational and I think that, similarly to another book I read recently, because of the younger target reader, the information about each historical figure was quite limited. However, I really liked the illustration style and I think that this would be a brilliant book to share with children.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just fantastic!
I learned a lot and think that this will be so helpful in teaching young children about so many phenomenal black women. The artwork was so adorable and engaging. The descriptions of the women were informative but short enough to hold a child's attention.
I'm so glad I ordered this!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the best children’s book on Black female leaders. The biographical information is interesting and easy to follow. While the illustrations could be artwork in schools or homes. Love everything about this book...wish I could afford to buy 1,000 copies to
give to every little girl I know.

[Laura Paulisich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow❣️iL❤️VE this book and am now a fan of @vashtiharrison❣️I learned so much and am so grateful this inspiring book exists! #requiredreading

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content, the art, how it’s written…. Basically, I loved all of it. There are so many inspiring women in this book.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Little Leaders book. A great non-fiction book for any class, particularly KS2, telling the story of many black women through history. A great book to explore when looking at history and the rights of women and black people. I think children would also enjoy reading the book for pleasure. The accompanying illustrations are beautiful and have shown the women as children as a way of making them more relatable to younger readers.

[Smoran8m · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about this book from a short interview with the author Vashti Harrison on the daily show. When asked if she thought the book would be successful she answered: "I knew black women support black women." I also love that the project started as an artist challenge (much like my fav artist Nuchtchas Daily Creativity).

When I looked up the book on Amazon I was surprised and pleased that the hardcover was only $11, so I bought one and, on impulse, bought one for every member of my book club. (This counts as both an African American History Month/Feb present and a Women's History Month/Mar present). The book was just delightful. The artwork super-cute and the stories delightful. There were women I knew a lot about (Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks), ones I had heard a little about ( Madam C. J. Walker, Ida B. Wells), and ones I never heard of before ( Mamie Phipps Clark, Alice Ball). On every page, I learned something new. The bios were fresh and engaging and spurred me to learn more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adore this book! Harrison's illustrations and taut descriptions emphasize the impact these "little" leaders had on African Americans in history and today. Many firsts and many (s)heroes line these pages with trademark details on the individuals and in their accompanying scenery for a delightful read for younger and older readers. This should be a staple in homes across the country. Can't wait for more of these!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here are forty leaders in history, all women, all black, with stories of courage and persistence, as they venture into positions as doctors, scientists, mathematicians, poets, political leaders, athletes, college students, writers, leading the ways for thousands of other black women to follow. The stories are simply told, but the author tells just enough to spark interest into pursuing more research into these lives. Inspiring.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book we should all read so much information of women being amazing and strong and overwhelming achievement.

[Alice Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so touched by this lovely book. It details the lives of some well-known and some unknown famous women in black history. It felt like a breath of fresh air and I learnt a lot about some key ‘hidden’ figures.