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Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future!

by Kate Schatz

Subject
Biography & Autobiography - Women
Age
6-8 years
Format
Hardcover
Pages
64
Publisher
City Lights Books
Size
18.5 cm × 23.1 cm
ISBN
9780872866836

The New York Times Bestseller!

"This is The Most Inspiring Children’s Book We've Ever Seen."--Refinery29.com

"The very first kids' book released by the iconic publishing house City Lights, Rad American Women A-Z navigates the alphabet from Angela Davis to Zora Neale Hurston with colorful illustrations and short, powerful narratives. The perfect gift for the junior riot grrl in your life."--Bust Magazine

"The History of Feminism--in an Awesome Picture Book. The ABCs just got a major girl-power upgrade."--Chantal Strasburger, Teen Vogue

Like all A-Z books, this one illustrates the alphabet—but instead of "A is for Apple", A is for Angela—as in Angela Davis, the iconic political activist. B is for Billie Jean King, who shattered the glass ceiling of sports; C is for Carol Burnett, who defied assumptions about women in comedy; D is for Dolores Huerta, who organized farmworkers; and E is for Ella Baker, who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King and helped shape the Civil Rights Movement.

And the list of great women continues, spanning several centuries, multiple professions, and 26 diverse individuals. There are artists and abolitionists, scientists and suffragettes, rock stars and rabble-rousers, and agents of change of all kinds.

The book includes an introduction that discusses what it means to be "rad" and "radical," an afterword with 26 suggestions for how you can be "rad," and a Resource Guide with ideas for further learning and reading.

American history was made by countless rad—and often radical—women. By offering a fresh and diverse array of female role models, we can remind readers that there are many places to find inspiration, and that being smart and strong and brave is rad.

Rad American Women will be appreciated by various age groups. It is Common Core aligned for students grades 3 - 8. Pre-school and young children will be captured by the bright visuals and easily modified texts, while the subject matter will stimulate and inspire high-schoolers and beyond.

"This is not a book. This is a guest list for a party of my heroes. Thank you for inviting us." —Lemony Snicket, author of A Series of Unfortunate Events books

"I feel honored to be included in this book. Women need to take radical steps to become feminists, and to be strong to fight for their rights and those of others facing oppression and discrimination. The world needs rad women to create a just society." —Dolores Huerta, Labor Leader, Civil Rights Activist

"It's almost always with a chuckle that I view a cartoon image of myself. But to see cartoon-me positioned (alphabetically) amongst so many of my women heroes and role models . . . well, I just broke down and cried. Happy tears. I surely hope that this one-of-a-kind collection of radical American women reaches the hands of all children who want to grow up and become amazing women." —Kate Bornstein, author of My New Gender Workbook

"I was totally in rapture reading this book. Bold women, bold colors, and fierce black paper cutouts. I cheer these histories of women who fight not for war or country or corporation, but for EVERYONE! I can't wait for my son to read this." —Nikki McClure, Illustrator of All in a Day

Data provided by BiblioShare.

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What reviewers said

"We see so many books (children's or otherwise) pass through the offices of Parents every day; most of them are shiny, vibrant, playful, educational, silly--and just plain fun. But when another editor friend of mine passed along the information for a new release, Rad American Women A-Z, I knew that it was something special."--Brooke Bunce, Parent's Magazine
"Rad American Women A-Z Is The Empowering Book Both Girls And Boys Need."
Caroline Bolgona, Huffington Post Parents
"This is the only alphabet where A stands for Angela Davis and Z stands for Zora Neale Hurston--and you haven't learned it, yet. Writer Kate Schatz and artist Miriam Klein Stahl have radical ambitions to amplify your vocabulary of women’s history with their new children's picture book, Rad American Women A-Z Schatz and Stahl are hoping to teach young boys and girls--and their mothers, fathers, caregivers, siblings, and teachers--about strong women who have made waves and inspired change. The thoughtfully compiled group of women spans the spectrum in terms of ethnicity, industry of work, age…
Noel Yuan, Yahoo News
"March is Women’s History Month. Just in time is this alphabetical pantheon of American women. The qualifier in the title is 'rad,' short for 'radical' and defined at the outset as a person who wants big changes or something very different, or as slang for 'cool.' From Angela Davis to Zora Neal Hurston, 26 women get their due with a mini bio and a hip portrait. Emphasis is on obstacles and accomplishments, the women’s missteps not included. Alphabet books impose an artificial constraint, in this case one letter, one woman. How to choose? Maya Lin over Margaret Sanger (M). Sonia Sotomayor over…
Susan Faust, San Francisco Chronicle
"Rad American Women A To Z, by Kate Schatz and wonderfully illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl, is a fantastic book for any child, but especially for girls. I think it's so important that young girls realize all the amazing things women have accomplished throughout history, because, sadly, I don't think they hear enough about it in school, even today. I am happy to say I have heard about most of the women in this book, but there were several that I did not know about and I am so impressed with their strength and courage in the face of great odds. We have to let the young people of today know…
Mary Engelbreit, renowned artist and children's book illustrator
"Rousing tributes to 26 women who didn't keep their heads or voices down. Reserving 'X' for 'the women whose names we don't know,' Schatz presents an unusually diverse gallery of activists. Along with the predictable likes of the Grimke sisters, Billie Jean King and Zora Neale Hurston, it includes Patti Smith, blacklisted musical prodigy Hazel Scott, Mexican-American journalist Jovita Idar and transgender performance artist Kate Bornstein. Furthermore, the author extends her definition of ‘radical' beyond the arenas of politics and social causes to include Florence Griffith-Joyner ('Who…
Kirkus Reviews
"This lively abecedary introduces 25 inspiring women and their accomplishments, from environmentalist Rachel Carson ('R is for Rachel') and rocker Patti Smith to lesser-known history-makers like Wilma Mankiller, who became the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and transgender author/artist Kate Bornstein. Schatz opens with a discussion of different meanings of rad/radical ('A radical can be a person who wants to make big changes in society'), and the snappy mini-biographies that follow hit the highlights of the women’s lives and legacies in an accessible, conversational tone. Bright…
Publishers Weekly
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© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.