Latinitas

February 1, 2021

Gr 3-6-This title highlights familiar and lesser-known women from Latin America and the United States. The subjects of these short biographies made significant contributions to the world, from science, the arts, technology, and activism. The women are depicted in vibrant watercolor illustrations, and personal details and the lasting impact of each woman's actions are captured in a single page of text. Some of the profiles spotlight trailblazers who are covered widely in other titles, such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. There are many who may be unknown to the target age demographic, such as human rights activist Berta C�ceres. There is not enough material to satisfy research project requirements, but these concise portraits will inspire further reading. VERDICT This inspiring book would make a great launching point for deeper investigation into the lives and accomplishments of these amazing women.-John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2021
Grades 2-5 Forty incredible Latinas are highlighted in this collective biography. Each double-page spread includes a hand-painted illustration of its subject as a child, along with an identifying feature that will help young readers connect the women to their stories. Accompanying each image is a one-page biography that includes information about each figure's childhood, as well as her achievements, plus noteworthy events, tragedies they overcame, and other experiences that influenced each woman as a child. Subjects include women who led troops into battle against all odds; talented musicians, writers, and chefs; anthropologists, archaeologists, and engineers; inspiring doctors and teachers; and women who spent their lives fighting for the rights of others. Ten additional Latinas are briefly highlighted in the back matter, with a recommendation for readers to seek out further information. A well-sourced addition to biography collections for children, sure to inspire young readers to follow their dreams--and seek out additional biographies about these and other Latin figures.

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January 1, 2021
This chronological collection begins with seventeenth-century Mexican writer and philosopher Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz and concludes with American Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez (born in 2000). Readers meet educators, artists, a spy, politicians, scientists, activists, and more. Menendez introduces each subject with a full-page stylized image in rich earth tones and a page of conversational text that highlights achievements, challenges, and a bit of personal information. The profiles offer glimpses into the women's lives; select sources for each entry are appended and offer opportunities for further research. Ten additional figures are mentioned at book's end.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 1, 2020
Celebrates the lives of 40 women who hail from all over Latin America and from the United States and who dreamed big and worked hard to follow their passion. They are presented in chronological order, starting in 1651 with writer and philosopher Sor Juana In�s de la Cruz from Mexico and concluding with present-day U.S. Olympic gymnast Lauren Zoe Hernandez. Young readers will find artists, writers, poets, singers, musicians, dancers, engineers, astronauts, scientists, activists, a soccer star, a spy, and a Supreme Court justice, among others. The women represent different nationalities, ethnicities, races, cultural, and economic backgrounds, and life paths followed, but they are all highly successful role models that will inspire young children to follow their own dreams. Each minibiography appears in a double-page spread, with a charming illustration on the verso and the text on the recto. Capturing some essential quality for each person, the earth-toned, contemporary-feeling graphic illustrations have a folk-art sensibility. The biographies are meant to provide but a glimpse into the life of each person. The author thoughtfully connects with her reading audience by including childhood events and influences that sparked lifelong pursuits--hence the diminutive used in the title of the book. A further 10 women are introduced in the backmatter, with a small portrait and sentence of explanation. There is a sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the text; though there is no glossary included, readers unfamiliar with the language should have no problem understanding. This book belongs in any child's hands. (selected sources) (Collective biography. 8-10)

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