About This Book:
A folksy, larger-than-life picture book biography about Ann Richards, the late governor of Texas who has inspired countless women in politics today.
Dorothy Ann Willis hailed from a small Texas town, but early on she found her voice and the guts to use it.
During her childhood in San Diego and her high school years back in Texas (when she dropped the “Dorothy”), Ann discovered a spark and passion for civic duty. It led her all the way to Washington, DC, where she, along with other girls from around the country, learned about the business of politics. Fast forward to Ann taking on the political boys’ club: she became county commissioner, then state treasurer, and finally governor of Texas. In this stunning picture book biography, full of vim, vigor, and folksy charm, two Texan creators take us through the life of the legendary “big mouth, big hair” governor of Texas, a woman who was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, and in turn became an inspiration to Hillary Clinton and countless others.
*Review Contributed By Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer*
A Texas Original
The illustrations are colorful and show the styles of the times well. This is a perfect length for a picture book– there’s enough information to get a feel for Richards career, but not so much that there is too much text to make for a comfortable read aloud.
There are so many women of this age who worked hard for little reward, but who ultimately succeeded in politics at a time when it was difficult for women to do so. Young readers with a political bent will enjoy this along with Chambers’ Shirley Chisholm is a Verb, Bryant’s Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight: Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX, and Boxer’s A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story.
