"Together, they planned to drive all the way around America. It was a great big country, but they had a great big cause."
Ages: 5 - 8
Pages: 40
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Location: USA
Time Period: Early 1900s
Nell Richardson and Alice Burke were on a mission. The United States believed women were intellectually inferior and didn't belong in politics. The suffragists were determined to prove the opposite was true. And how were they going to draw attention to their cause? By driving cross-country, of course! In an era when maps were unreliable, roads were muddy, and gas stations few and far between, this drive would be anything but easy. Yet, the two ladies, alongside a tiny kitten in a yellow bow, set out. Accompanied by cheery illustrations, Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles by Mara Rockliff is an entertaining narrative sharing the highs and lows of the suffragists' journey.
Back content includes "That Newfangled Machine!" (all about the car they drove and an excerpt from Burke's diary), "Winning the Vote" (history of the movement), "Why All The Yellow?" (turns out it's significant!), and "For Further Reading" (a book list curated by the author).
Related Reads:
Mara Rockliff also wrote another favorite picture book of mine all about a little known hero of the American Revolution. You can find the review for it here.
Resources:
You can find videos, activities, crafts and more that relate to this book on our Pinterest boards below!
Content Warnings
Content that some individuals may find controversial or objectionable. Attention was given to include content which may offend people of a particular culture, race or religion and details which the sensitive child may find unsettling or troublesome.
"No Spoilers" offers a summary of content issues while avoiding spoilers. "With Spoilers" lists the potential content issues in detail.
No Spoilers:
Sexist views mentioned in-text and back content.
With Spoilers:
Past Philosophies and Ideologies
In-text and back content mention the sexist views that most Americans had in the early 1900s. Here they are listed below.
In-text:
"...women didn't have the brains to vote..."
Women should stick to cooking and sewing "and leave running of the nation to the men..."
Back Content (specifically "Winning the Vote"):
Mentions how First Lady Abigail mentioned women's rights to husband and how his response was laughter.
Many women had to defy "husbands and fathers" who shared the culture's sexist views.
Brief mention how women protesting were attacked, arrested without cause, and "treated so badly" in prison. No details given.
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