Picture book biographies are a fantastic way for kids to learn. The best ones are fun to read and introduce readers to someone new or expand their knowledge of someone well-known. We read a lot of picture book biographies as part of our homeschool. Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?, a new biography of Elizabeth Blackwell, by Tanya Lee Stone is a worthy addition to this genre.
Elizabeth Blackwell, the first women doctor in the U.S., is one of my personal heroes so much of the history told here was familiar to me. Still, even I learned some new things, including that Elizabeth’s sister Emily also became a doctor. The text mostly serves as an simple introduction to Blackwell’s story and would be best for younger elementary ages. Stone does include several end pages with more, including Blackwell’s later life and a photograph of Blackwell herself. I loved the whimsical illustrations by Marjorie Priceman, one of my favorite illustrators.
This book is a nominee for a Cybils Award in the Elementary and Middle Grade Non-Fiction category for which I am a Round 1 panelist. I obtained a copy of the book from my library.
With 2 lady doctors in your close family and many more in the extended family, your kids probably think many more women than men are doctors!!!
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