The International Day of the Girl

August 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-International Day of the Girl, which spotlights issues faced by girls around the world, was established in October 2012 by the United Nations. This picture book introduces readers to this observance day and shares nine stories inspired by young visionaries. Though the challenges confronting girls can be incredibly grim, these stories are filled with hope. The text highlights issues such as lack of proper nutrition, child marriage, education opportunity inequalities, gender-based violence, and lack of access to technology. Each story focuses on one girl who was able to overcome obstacles and find solutions to help improve not only her own situation but the conditions of the girls in her community. Shin's emotive illustrations provide a colorful, galvanizing backdrop for the empowering stories. The individual stories are engaging, but the writing may be too complex for younger readers to process. These stories could be shared as part of a lesson or program rather than as a complete read-aloud or individual reading experience. The book could be a starting point for classroom discussions around gender equality and the struggle of girls around the world. The balance of text to illustration doesn't necessarily work as a picture book; the result is more like an informational text. VERDICT Despite some shortcomings, this is a solid addition to the upper elementary nonfiction shelves or separate collections highlighting women's studies or gender equality.-Elaine Baran Black, Georgia P.L. Svc., Atlanta

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Starred review from July 1, 2020
Fictional profiles based on real girls from countries around the world illustrate some of the gender-based inequities that inspired girl activists to champion the International Day of the Girl through the United Nations. Flora, in Brazil, begins to learn capoeira, a martial art that can help her defend herself against men who follow girls on the "long, unsafe road to and from school." Hana, in Afghanistan, learns to read from her grandmother when girls are prohibited from going to school. Abuya, in Kenya, learns carpentry from her father, and when her sister stops going to high school because there is no private bathroom, she practices her skills with other girls until they can build an outhouse to help girls continue going to school. Other girls use STEM skills, advocacy, and positive personality traits and talents to address mental health, access to education, nutrition, and child marriage. Each spread is dedicated to one girl's story: One side pictures the girl being active in her community in attractive pastel illustrations; the other side relays her story in a few concise, accessible paragraphs, with a sidebar naming her country and some other countries with similar issues. A header introduces her as "strong," "smart," "brave," etc. This nonfiction volume introduces heavy issues in the context of child-led social change, a powerful method that inspires hope rather than despair. Endnotes offer a timeline of advocacy at the U.N. for girls and women and further information, including statistics, with web-based sources. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-24-inch double-page spreads viewed at 61% of actual size.) Engaging, age-appropriate, and eye-opening. (Nonfiction. 6-10)

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Starred review from August 1, 2020
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* One of the many striking elements of this collaboration is how explicitly the authors depict sexism, leaving readers with no doubt as to the dangers that surround girls all over the world?dangers such as men who follow them with harmful intent, unsanitary school facilities, illiteracy, disability, and child marriage. This powerful book highlights nine fictional girls (all based on real interviews and research) from different corners of the globe, each of whom is struggling to bloom within a system that wants to keep her weak. Each spread features one girl, along with an attribute? This is Hana. She is smart; This is Liliya. She is inventive ?as well as deeper context, allowing readers to get to know her as a person with whom they are sure to find common ground. The dangers highlighted in the individual stories are supplemented by informational text boxes, and an accompanying full-page illustration in lovely, contemporary collage further humanizes these resilient girls. While the simple format and cheerful colors belie the seriousness of the topic, balance is brought through a celebratory tone that avoids being hyperbolic. Back matter educates readers further on specific dangers and on the formation of the International Day of the Girl, but the ultimate message is straightforward: it's time for the world to notice gender inequality and change it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)