STEADFAST: Frances Perkins, Champion of Workers’ Rights
A 42-page, Nonfiction Picture Book available in Hard and Soft Cover
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Learn more about Frances’ life and legacy at the Frances Perkins Center in Damariscotta, Maine
When Frances Perkins witnessed New York City's Triangle Factory fire in 1911, her desire to help workers transformed into a lifelong mission. First woman in a US Cabinet, she was the force behind the New Deal and Social Security. Frances Perkins is the most important woman you might not have heard of – yet!
REVIEWERS SAY:
“…a delightful book that will appeal to young readers and admirers of colorful and original art. Merz’s well-researched book presents the story of this accomplished woman through appealing collages and clear language.
We at the Frances Perkins Center hope that you will enjoy this book and that you will share it with the young people in your life. I know that I will.”
-Sarah Peskin, Board Chair, Frances Perkins Center, Newcastle, Maine
“…Perkins led the battle on many fronts, and this inviting study of the times and her actions encourages young people to not just understand her life, but the active role she chose in battling seemingly impossible injustices through the government system. Readers interested in picture book biographies of strong women who made a difference will find Steadfast an important reference.”
-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“This book provides a voice to a woman who is not always discussed in classrooms. Whereas so many of us learn about the Triangle Waist Company’s horrible conditions, we do not learn about Perkins’s remarkable determination and her lasting impact on so many of the building safety regulations that protect us all today. Until now.
This book is not only illuminating in its message but in its artistic quality. Merz’s extraordinary cut-paper collages complement beautifully the book’s energy. Whereas some younger readers may become intimidated by the many words on some of the pages, the illustrations serve to tell visually the story.
A book that should surely be on your nonfiction read-aloud list, STEADFAST earns five stars.”
—Katie Caprino, Katie Reviews Books
“This book [is] a natural to start a discussion on bravery, fighting for what is right, immigration, and women’s rights. STEADFAST takes us through a time of hardship and unspeakable working conditions, but leaves us with hope. Children will feel empowered: ‘If Frances Perkins could do it, maybe I can, too.’”
—Jacquie Hann, writer/illustrator and Children’s Book Instructor at Parsons, The New School, and Media Bistro, NYC
Ages 6-9, Gr. K-4
ISBN: 978-0-578-67913-6 HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-0-578-83552-5 SOFTCOVER
JENNUINE BOOKS