
Reach for this book when your child is feeling discouraged by a challenge or told they are too young or small to participate. It is the perfect antidote to the word no, offering a historical perspective on how persistence and a can-do attitude can dismantle systemic barriers. The story follows Esther Morris from her childhood as a bold girl who learned to sew and run a business, to her pivotal role in the suffrage movement in Wyoming. It beautifully illustrates themes of civic duty, resilience, and the power of individual initiative. Parents will appreciate how it frames the fight for the vote not just as a political struggle, but as a lifelong habit of seeing a need and saying, I could do that. It is an empowering, secular biography suitable for children in the early to middle elementary years.
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A second or third grader who is beginning to notice unfairness or "rules" that don't make sense. It is perfect for the child who is frequently told they are too small or too young to help, or for the girl who needs to see that leadership is a lifelong practice of showing up and being useful.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThis book can be read cold. It is a straightforward, secular historical biography. Parents may want to briefly explain what "suffrage" means before starting to ensure the historical stakes are clear. This book is the answer when a parent hears their child say, "It's not fair," or "I'm not allowed to do that because I'm a girl," or even "I don't know how I can make a difference."
A six-year-old will focus on Esther's physical feats, like making her own clothes or traveling in a wagon, and will find her "can-do" attitude funny and inspiring. A ten-year-old will better grasp the political significance of her actions and the systemic nature of the inequality she was fighting against.
Unlike many suffrage books that focus on the later, more famous marches in D.C. or New York, this highlights the "everyday" nature of Esther's bravery and her specific success in Wyoming. It frames activism as a natural extension of being a capable, helpful neighbor and business owner.
This biography follows the life of Esther Morris, a woman who consistently defied gender expectations in the 19th century. From her childhood as an orphan who learns the trade of seamstressing and starts her own business, to her adult life as a pioneer in Wyoming, Esther's life is defined by her catchphrase, "I could do that!" The narrative culminates in her successful lobbying for a bill that gave women the right to vote in Wyoming Territory in 1869, making it the first place in the U.S. to grant suffrage.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.