American Women from A to Z

Picture book A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women, written by Lynne Cheney and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, is an alphabet book presenting noteworthy American women to readers ages 6-12.  Published in 2003 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, the book’s rich details will draw readers in, as there is so much in both the text and illustrations to explore.  The colors and beautiful designs of the pages are enticing, especially the gatefold for the letter P: a curtain stage that reveals a bevy of American female performers. There is so much information packed onto each page that it is a bit visually overwhelming at times, particularly the B page for “Elizabeth Blackwell and others who wanted to heal” as you have to read around triangular pictures to learn about each woman featured.  That fact aside, this text contains a wealth of knowledge that would make a wonderful support for an elementary or middle school history class. Through this text, children will be introduced in an exciting way to many American women whose lives ought to be remembered and modeled.