Go Girl

I have found this book so inspiring as a woman, and through reading it to my children I have felt inspired by it as a mother. My sons have had a completely different, just as inspiring, take on it. Your child will too.

Emily Writes, The Sapling

In the wake of the US publication Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, profiling heroic women, comes our own no less inspiring and considerably more relatable version. The subjects of this anthology of role models’ life stories range – alphabetically – from “Ahumai Te Paerata: Warrior” to “Yvette Williams: Athlete”, via singers, writers, sportspeople, scientists and a spy, Nancy Wake. There’s a satisfying balance between historical figures and living paragons...Else’s text is complemented by the work of nine illustrators – all women – whose differing styles provide variety and another reminder of an area in which there is no shortage of excellent local exemplars...The book is specifically aimed at girls, but it would be a useful gift for boys, to help them realise they’re not the only ones who can do cool stuff.

Paul Little, North and South

A book like this shows that girls can do anything. We can speak out and we can invent and we can be daring and we can be strong. ...This book fills me with hope for a better world. ...This book is a sumptuous, eye catching, heart warming, brain boosting, muscle strengthening, feet leaping TREAT!

Paula Green, Poetry Box

[This] new storybook for girls has a powerful message and there's not a shred of pink in sight.

Kim Dungey, Otago Daily Times

Else has a knack for pulling out details about our ‘‘epic women’’ that both humanise them and make them endearing; Helen Clark’s battered black suitcase found abandoned when she took her office; Georgina Beyer’s ceremonial burning of her male clothing; Ahumai Te Paerata’s silent life-saving protest. She includes little snippets of the woman’s voice, a defiant ‘‘Oh really?’’ from runner Lisa Tamati, a querying ‘‘What if…?’’ from Dame Suzie Moncrief. This, along with their arrangement (alphabetically by first name), encourages a sense of personal connection, of knowing them. Of course, we do know them many of them, but we should know more. The book crosses boundaries of occupations and ages, the women depicted come from many time periods and many stages of life. There is someone recognisable, or aspirational, for every reader. The illustrations spring from the page, created by [nine] talented female Kiwi artists. My daughters’ little fingers trail across the page and they choose stories based on images of women in action; running, swimming, holding bows, microphones and medals.

Laura Borrowdale, Manawatu Standard

The stories are short, but enough to encourage further investigation of their subjects. I’m sure that most parents will learn something new while reading this to their children.

Diane McCarthy, Eastern Bay Life

a fantastic way to introduce girls (and everyone else) to the everyday Kiwi heroines who may not be recognised as such in a mainstream context. In many cases they overcame disability, racial and sexual prejudice to make their mark.

NZ Doctor

The beautifully written little biographies focus on just some of the aspects of these trailblazers' lives and each is accompanied by a distinctive portrait drawn by a number of gifted New Zealand illustrators. These stories affirm that old-fashioned stereotypes can be broken - boys can be ballet dancers and girls can speak out. Delightful to read aloud, these luscious keepsakes will motivate young Kiwis aged 5-10 to go for their dreams.

Ruth McIntyre, Australian Women's Weekly

This stunning collection of life-stories, with gorgeous paintings by New Zealand artists, is both a celebration and an inspiration for women ages 9-90.

Carole Beu, Ponsonby News

This is a wonderful book. The writing style is clear, and reads like a bedtime story, so is very appealing. Often, the writing style will further reflect the woman portrayed – I particularly enjoyed Margaret Mahy’s profile! I loved the wide range of subjects. With nearly 50 stories, and a range of historic and contemporary women across a variety of disciplines, this is a great book for New Zealand children. I’m sure that this book will appeal widely in New Zealand homes and schools, quickly becoming a standard resource. It makes a fantastic gift.

Emma Rutherford, The Reader