Learning to Be is an interesting series of nonfiction board books, each of which tells the story of an inspiring woman who made a difference. Stories about women are important because so many have been written out of history. Presenting their stories in the form of board books is a unique concept and a striking one. We don’t usually find words like ‘commitment’ and ‘perseverance’ in a board book! Yet, when these books with their vivid illustrations are read aloud to young children, I’m sure they will be impactful.
I wonder, however, if these stories would have been easier to understand in simple prose, considering the target age-group. Rhyme allowed these stories to be brief and quick-paced, but I also found that rhyme restricted the word choice in several places.
Women in Science
I encountered two of these four women for the first time! In just a few lines, Pervin Saket takes us through the lives of these remarkable women, showing us how they battled prejudice to achieve greatness. My favourite in this set was probably Perseverance with Janaki Ammal, whose story I love. I enjoyed Lavanya Karthik’s book about her too!
Each story ends with a lovely call to action, encouraging readers to follow their dreams. True to the title of the series, these books teach children to be. Be what? The best version of themselves, perseverant in the way they follow their passion with courage and commitment.
Women in Sports
Another series of lovely stories, I enjoyed learning about all these sportswomen, particularly Chandro and Prakashi Tomar! Their story is an inspiring one indeed! Once more, I like how each tale ends with lines addressed to the reader reminding them that they too can excel, even if life throws challenges their way.
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