Hannah G Solomon Dared to Make a Difference

by Bonnie Lindauer, Sofia Moore (Illustrator)

When Hannah G. Solomon looked around Chicago, the city where she was born, she saw unfairness all around her. Many people were poor and living in terrible conditions. Immigrants from other countries struggled to survive in their new home. Hannah decided to help change that. When she grew up, she founded the National Council of Jewish Women—the first organization to unite Jewish women around the country—and fought to make life better for others, especially women and children, in Chicago and beyond.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Jewish, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children and I really loved this book! The story held their interest well and the illustrations were very cute. I actually was not aware of Hannah and the essential role she played in both Jewish and women's rights. Her story is fascinating and I highly recommend this book as a very readable biography for children. Her parents immigrated from Germany to Chicago, Illinois prior to her birth, in 1858. They lived through many big historical events. Her family's home was a safe refuge for runaway slaves and they lived through the Civil War, the end of legal slavery, and the Great Chicago Fire, to name a few. She was called to organize the first meeting for Jewish women at the Chicago Fair in 1893 and founded the National Council of Jewish Woman and became their first president. She spent the rest of her life selflessly helping immigrants, especially women and children, and fighting for women's rights, with Susan B. Anthony and other women's right figures. This book was especially impactful to me since my part-Jewish great grandfather and his siblings immigrated to Chicago, Illinois from Austria in 1910, right in the middle of Hannah's humanitarian work in the very same city. Eventually, my family moved down to central Illinois, but they were in Chicago for awhile. While it hits close to home for me, I think this book is a lovely way to integrate a diverse historical figure, no matter the reader. It is beautifully written, informative, and enthralling.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book biography shares the story of Hannah G. Solomon, who founded the National Council of Jewish Women. The story is succinct and comprehensive, covering the major aspects of her life and work in just under forty pages. The author provides historical context for her environment in Chicago, explains about her childhood inspiration for charity work, and covers some of her major adult accomplishments to help others, especially Jewish immigrant populations. The book also connects Solomon to contemporaries she worked alongside, such as Jane Addams and Susan B. Anthony. There is also a brief author's note and a timeline at the end.

My one critique is how the book ends. It jumps ahead to current times in a way that distracts from the story, because when the next-to-last page explains about the 19th amendment, instead of picturing women from the time, the illustration depicts modern women protesting with modern slogans on signs. The purpose of this is to show how women have continued to speak out about social issues, but I found this distracting, since it didn't fit with the time period and was the only modern insertion in the story. There is one more page about Solomon after that, but the ending seems very abrupt.

Overall, this is an excellent historical resource. The author represents Solomon within her time period, with attention to social issues from her childhood and adulthood, and there is enough contextual explanation for children to follow the story without it bogging down in too much detail. The colorful illustrations are also excellent, including specific, evocative period details without ever becoming cluttered. I would recommend this to Jewish and general audiences, and it is a great book for both children and adults. I don't think that I had ever heard of Solomon before, and I enjoyed learning about her in this well-designed book.

I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deserves my thanks, as it would do if it was a poor representation of the subject, about whom I don't think I'd ever heard. Thanks come much more easily when this is pitched very well at the target audience, and shows that the fight for equality, and fair access to society, culture, labour and health for all is an ongoing struggle. Our subject, brought up the right way by fine upstanding people, and seeing them house some of the homeless left that way by a mahoosive Chicago fire, was such a front-runner in volunteering for women's issues in her city that she was tasked with bringing Jewish women to the World's Fair. From that came the National Council of Jewish Women, which since day one has definitely done a lot, not just for Jewish Women, but for everyone. Clearly this religiously-named body caters way outside that belief system – would that others followed that path. Anyway, the book is perfectly accessible, and there is nothing of the 'first book syndrome' that marks this as flawed when compared to similar volumes about similar subjects. The artwork too is fine – I would have liked more chance to see the masterful double-page spreads we get here and there, but the illustrations are always suitable. And as I say, this successfully taught me something, so has every right to succeed. Four and a half stars.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with the way American history is taught is that most of the people that are brought out are straight white me and women, and very few others.

In reading this book, and realizing I had never heard of Hanna G. Solomon, I was reminded of a crusading woman who turned out to be her contemporary Jane Addams, who started Hull House, to benefit poor immigrant women. Just as Jane did what she did, so did Hannah do for Jewish women and poor people in Chicago. She founded the National Council fo Jewish Women, which apparently is still around to this day.

there is a little snippit about her at the end of the book, as well as a photo of her.

Facinating knwoing about women who did good back int he day.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah G. Solomon Dared to Make a Difference is a lovely picture book biography introduction of the life of Hannah G. Solomon, a lifelong activist and founder of the National Council of Jewish Women. With soft illustrations and engaging storytelling, we learn about a little-known but very significant part of Jewish American history. It covers background in American history and Chicago history to help young readers understand the significance of what was happening, whether it was the Chicago World's Fair or the campaign for the right for women to vote, as well as more personal details of Solomon's life. The timeline and extra notes at the end were helpful as well.

I do have a soft spot for picture book biographies, but this was one I enjoyed for sure. I would definitely recommend it.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Biography of Hannah G Solomon for elementary level readers. Lindauer takes them through the roots of her passion and commitment to helping other succeed. They see her challenges and successes as she developed a conference for Jewish women to run with the World's Fair in Chicago. Her passion grew and a new organization was founded at this conference. From there, she worked for better opportunities for the poor and immigrants as well as votes for women.
The illustrations support the text and provide a window into her life. The text reads smoothly for mid to upper elementary level readers. Further informative text is included at the end of the book.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful biography introducing readers to the founder of the National Council of Jewish Women! The illustrations and text are perfectly matched, and key ideas are captured in memorable sentences. I had never heard about Hannah Solomon. After reading this book, I'll be looking for more information about this influential friend of Jane Addams.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for making this book available for review, and to the author and illustrator for their work.

[Reyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si no mezclaran sería otra cosa. La historia es muy bonita PERO lo que me molesta es que al final mezclan con imágenes carteles y movimientos del feminismo actual y nada que ver...lo justifican mezclándolo con la primer ola del feminismo que no tiene nada que ver con las exigencias y filosofía del feminismo actual. La historia en sí era de una mujer luchando por los derechos de los demás de una manera nada egoísta y los movimientos actuales son principalmente egoístas.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Lerner Publishing Group, Kar-Ben Publishing ® for a free digital copy.

A great picture book about an inspirational woman who did a lot for people who were not recognized in society, especially Jewish women. The book is a great overview of her life and what she accomplished.

[Erika Dreifus]

Delighted with this giveaway copy that introduced me to the life of Solomon (1858-1942), whose many unusual-for-her-time achievements included the establishment of the National Council of Jewish Women.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah created a national Jewish women's group out of a conference for Jewish women that she organized at the Chicago World's Fair.
And, she worked at Hull House and created her own settlement house just for Jewish immigrants.

She saw the issues of poor immigrants and worked to alleviate them.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book biography about Hannah G. Solomon, a Jewish woman who worked to ensure that Jewish women were treated equally and were being recognized for their outstanding work. Contains back matter.

[G. Salter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice mix of good illustrations, quotes from the time and interesting facts about Solomon's family as well as the primary story about her organizing the Jewish Women's conference.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

...and she does.

[Martha Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book biography shows children how one person can change the lives of many people by taking positive action.

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and accessible retelling of the story of an important, influential woman. Reminded my kids (in both topic and art) of Jonah Winter and Nancy Carpenter’s picture book on Mother Jones.

[Witch Pony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book tells the life of Hannah Salomon, a Jewish woman, who defended the rights of women and believed in the ability of women to make decisions and to lead and to do all that men can.

She helped many women in poor or unfavorable situations, offering a home and education to those who wanted it.

The illustrations have a watercolor base, which I love.

This is a very nice read to meet the women who made history and fought for women's rights.