Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World

Gr 2–5–Harrison's nonfiction picture book reads like a who's who list of daring women. This compendium highlights the life histories and achievements of 36 curious and resourceful women, both living and deceased. Some, like Marie Curie, are often featured in collected biographies, while others, like Bessie Blount Griffin, may be less familiar. Each woman is allotted a one-page biography adjacent to one of Harrison's now iconic portraits, crafted in Adobe Photoshop. The "dreamer" stands calmly and confidently, eyes closed, in the setting where she made a breakthrough, surrounded by the tools of her trade or her objects of study. In her introduction, Harrison reminds readers that in their own time, many of these women were not seen as luminaries and that it took a while for them to be appreciated. She also emphasizes throughout that scientists are creative artists. Back matter includes a list of 18 other visionary women, each with her own short biography; a catalogue of work by the subjects; and additional resources.