It takes a pretty spectacular children’s book to have me reading it more than a couple of times. My Name is Not Isabella, (published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) by Jennifer Fosberry is one such book. I love everything about this book. The illustrations are grand, the storyline is fun and it teaches imagination and a short history of some pretty amazing women in history.
The book starts with the mom waking Isabella who declares that her name is NOT Isabella. Her name is Sally. I love that the Mom carries the imagination into breakfast, where Sally becomes Annie…then Rosa…then Marie…then Elizabeth.
With each name change, the little girl projects a sentence or two on why she is that name. They are positive, strong reasons that introduce great women like Sally Ride, Annie Oakley, Rosa Parks, Elizabeth Blackwell, Marie Curie.
By the second name change, my children were shouting the lines of the little girl and couldn’t wait to see who she had become! They have never giggled and cheered so much in a book. It was quite an experience.
This book is a wonderful example of role models. I love the diversity, from the First Woman in Space to the First Woman to become a Doctor. It tells the story of Rosa Parks and Annie Oakley. At the end of the book it has actual pictures of the women named (by first name and profession) in the book with a short biography. My children found this fascinating and were so thrilled to see these women.
I especially celebrated the fact that Mommy is one of the names and is also included in the back of the book in a very positive and endearing manner that made me proud.
This book celebrates dreams. It gives girls strong role models and paves the way to the possibilities they have…my six year old was especially struck by Elizabeth Blackwell. Initially because Elizabeth is her middle name, but beyond this, that she set out to do something and followed it. She didn’t let a disability stop her from her passion and from laying the foundation for other females.
My Name is Not Isabella is a tremendous book. It inspired me, my girls, and even my four-year-old son to think it was “neato”.
Pick up a copy at Amazon and discover the joy of reading!
I received the book mentioned in this post from the sponsor in order to facilitate an honest review. No other compensation was recieved. The opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by the sponsor. Others experience may vary.