Illustrated by Jade Orlando
5 stars
Sydney wants to grow up to be a great leader, but public speaking makes her nervous and she can’t get the words out. To help her gain the confidence to give a speech to her class, her father teaches her about famous Black women in history including Kamala Harris, Condoleezza Rice, Shirley Chisholm, and Carol Moseley Braun.
A sweet story with so many fantastic elements in place. Great for showcasing supportive father-daughter relationships, Black women who have used their voices for change, and overcoming a fear of public speaking.
Nice emphasis on practice and believing in yourself. I also loved that being shy and introverted isn’t presented as a bad thing. Instead, the story focuses on the power of your voice and what you choose to do with it.
At the back are short blurbs about each of the women mentioned, showing how they stood up against unfair rules.
A beautiful read. Love how Sydney passes on what she learns. She is already a great leader.