An engaging set of biographical sketches of female explorers.

Julia Cummins, an award winning children's writer and library coordinator, uses ten examples of female explorers to teach children that it was not only men who went out to discover and write about new places on the globe. Although I think this book would be of some use to students, especially girls in a classroom, I do have some reservations about the book. I assume since Julia Cummins has worked as a library coordinator that she used an extensive amount of resources when researching for this book. I wish that the book would have included more than just a selected bibliography. I find the selected bibliography intriguing, I wish I could see more of the books that she used. Another reservation I had is that all ten of the women presented are white and Western. I wish more women of color had been represented. There are a few examples in history, and I wish at least one had been represented. All of this aside, I do find the writing interesting and engaging, and this book is a great way to show girls in a classroom that they can be rough and tumble and go out on their own to pursue their passions. ( )

Response - I have not heard of any of the women that the book highlights. Each chapter is three pages long, which holds the reader's attention. I think that the author highlights a diverse group of women - from different centuries, different countries, and different explorations or feats.

Curricular connection - unit on biographies or explorers

Women Explorers was about women travelers and explorers that people probably didn’t know about. The descriptions of these women’s lives and travels were very detailed and riveting. From living with cannibals to surviving multiple diseases and living to the age of one hundred. Each of these women were exemplary and just wanted to pursue their love of travel and learning.
A great point the book made was that people haven’t heard about these women because woman exploring isn’t celebrated the way men explorers are because of gender bias. Women are supposed to dress properly, stay at home, and stay in their places. I think a great lesson that could be taught from this book is that just because you haven’t heard of something doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Women have done extraordinary things but, because of the patriarchal society we live in, their achievements were diminished and dismissed. I would use this book to teach my kids that male explorers aren’t “normal” and female explorers aren’t “niche.” People need to be exposed to other aspects of history and learn that those achievements were “normal.” Students today need to be exposed to the great things a variety of people have accomplished and not the same old boring white male history. I would ask my students why they think we are constantly studying white male achievements, but other cultural and genders achievements are only studied at special times?
This was a great book and very much needed in the library. By reading it I’ve learned so much and I want others to gain the experience that I did. ( )

This is a really cool book about just what the title says, women explorers. The book highlights some amazing women who did great things for geography, history, politics, society, and feminism throughout history. The women in this book, such as Nellie Cashman and Annie Smith Peck, never made it into history textbooks, but their contributions to the world should be known. It shows that we can do anything and is a great inspirational and educational book for young girls. It is geared more for younger girls around the 8-12 age range, but I think it is beneficial to older kids as well because what these amazing women did aren't recognized in regular history curriculums. It's a refreshing book to read. ( )