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GIRLS CAN BE ENGINEERS by Jamila H Lindo

GIRLS CAN BE ENGINEERS

by Jamila H Lindo ; illustrated by Beatriz Mello

Pub Date: March 10th, 2021
ISBN: 978-0578857374
Publisher: Jh Lindo LLC

In this debut picture book, a young girl wrestles with misogyny as she chooses a future career.

Confronted with the approach of Career Day in class, Black elementary schooler Hannah worries about what profession to select for herself. Her love of flying for vacations propels her to dream of being a pilot, but that vision is soon shattered by her friend Ryan. “I see male pilots all the time at the airport,” he tells her. “I have never seen a female pilot before.” Hannah is dismayed that women apparently can’t become pilots, but she isn’t so easily deterred. She pivots optimistically to planning to become an archaeologist because of her interest in history and anthropology. Her classmate Olivia likewise shoots this idea down for the same reason as Ryan. This frustrates Hannah to no end, so she turns to her structural engineer mother for advice. The girl learns that the true problem lies not in her gender, but in a lack of representation in the media and the workforce. Hannah’s struggle is a common one, reflecting conversations that many children may have with their peers and parents. Her boundless energy is echoed by Mello’s colorful digital illustrations, which bring to life Hannah’s imagination through costumes and expressive poses. Fans of Andrea Beaty’s Questioneersseries will appreciate the validation this story by Lindo, an engineer, will provide to girls interested in traditionally male-dominated professions.

A simple but inspiring career tale that can benefit young readers of any gender.