Title: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
Author and illustrator: Kate Pankhurst
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s

Title: Ada Twist, Scientist
Author: Andrea Beaty
Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher: Abrams Books

Teacher review

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, by Kate Pankhurst, is a lovely book, with vibrant, fun illustrations and interesting facts about some amazing women. Just looking at the cover it made me want to explore the pages.

The book features the normal go-to heroines, like Anne Frank, Emmeline Pankhurst and Marie Curie, but I was delighted that it brought to life Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo and Rosa Parks as well. The pockets of information about these women gave me an insight into their worlds and what they done.

I think that Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World will encourage students to look at these women in a different light, and hopefully to research them further.

Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, grabs you with cover illustrations and draws you in. Then you are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the life of young Ada Twist.

Ada wants to know everything, and is a problem to her parents, who don’t really know what to do with their inquisitive daughter. They indulge Ada’s thirst for knowledge and try to help. Ada then continues on her exploration of the world around her, always wanting to know more. Along the way, she becomes a budding scientist.

The words are written in rhyme, and you are pulled along through the pages, seeing the wonder through a child’s eyes. I loved the illustrations, which manage to convey the urgency and curious nature of Ada’s life: Ada’s house walls had become a notepad.

Both books would find a place on my school library shelves, as they elevate women in our world.

Ruth Keys is school librarian at Linton Village College, in Cambridge.

Pupil reviews

The front cover of Ada Twist, Scientist makes this seem like a book for young, enthusiastic teens as it shows you that, through science, most things are possible!

I recommend this book because it encourages people to believe that anything is possible, as long as they try hard and have self-belief. It makes you think about the world we live in and promotes people asking questions to satisfy their curiosity.

Ada Twist, Scientist is a good book for children, because you start to think closely about life and question how scientists use their time and effort to find cures for diseases and illnesses as well as understanding how the human body works.

I enjoyed this book, because it made me appreciate all of the scientists’ hard work. It also shows you how even young children can love and nurture their interest in science and the world around them. This is why you should check this book out - it will inspire you to do something you love!

Abbi, age 13

I recommend Great Women Who Changed The World, because it’s easy to understand. It shows that women can do amazing things as well as men.

I have learnt a lot of things that I didn’t already know, and the illustrations in this book made it fun to read. This book is very good for children because it gives you a lot of factual information in language you can understand.

After I had read this book, I wanted to find out more about the women. The reason that I was so interested was the fact that the front cover was eye-catching, colourful and fun.

People aged between 6 and 12 would be most interested in this book, because it uses good vocabulary and it’s good for people who are just starting to take an interest in history. The history in this book is good, but it also has funny facts about the women’s lives at home, their families and their sources of inspiration.

This book is a fantastic read for people of all ages!

Isabel, age 13

If you or your class would like to write a review for TES, please contact Adi Bloom at adi.bloom@tesglobal.com

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