About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is frustrated by gender stereotypes or when they feel discouraged because they are told they are 'too small' or 'not allowed' to do something they love. It is a perfect choice for the little builder who spends hours tinkering with blocks or tools and needs to see their curiosity reflected in a real-life hero. This empowering true story follows Alice Johnson, a girl living through the Great Depression who refuses to let a 'boys only' rule stop her from competing in the first Soap Box Derby. With her father's help and a lot of engineering grit, she builds a car using airplane parts to prove she belongs on the track. It is a gentle but firm look at fairness, perseverance, and the bond between a supportive parent and a determined child, suitable for children ages 4 to 8.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book addresses gender discrimination directly but through a historical lens, making the unfairness clear to young readers. It touches briefly on the Great Depression as a time of financial hardship (grounding the family's planes), which is handled in a secular, realistic, and ultimately hopeful manner.
