Author’s Note When I was preparing for the birth of my second daughter, a wise woman friend of mine told me to imagine the expanding circles of women behind me, supporting me. I imagined my friends, my elders, and my ancestors. I imagined the famous women throughout history who broke through walls and changed the world. I imagined, too, the daughter who would soon be born. This image of that unbroken chain is what f irst inspired Standing On Her Shoulders . Though we still have far to go in our efforts at true equality, how very far we have come! The freedoms we enjoy today were hard-won by those in the past. They may not have been perfect, but they were the f ierce warriors we needed. Remembering their lives and speaking their names is the least we can do to honor their legacy. One of my goals as a woman, mother, and writer is to be a strong set of shoulders for the future to stand on. Together, we are stronger and smarter and braver and kinder than any one of us is alone. We are what the world needs. You are exactly what our future needs. Author’s Acknowledgments As always, I rely on the brilliant women of my critique group, especially my dear Heather and Amelia. I’m grateful for the support of my family — My parents, Greg, Maddie, Bee, and Josh, among others. Thanks for believing in me.
Illustrator’s Note It was an honor to be asked to illustrate Standing On Her Shoulders . It was a long time in the making, but I loved this beautifully written manuscript as soon as I read it. One of the best things about this wonderful job that I do is that I am constantly learning new things. As the editors suggested women to include in my illustrations, I found myself researching and learning more about some of the inspirational women I already knew of and meeting some really amazing women from history I had never even heard of ! I hope this book inspires kids to do their own research and learn more about these women, especially those not so widely known, women like Mary Church Terrell and Ynés Mexia. I thought I was familiar with Maya Angelou’s work, but before starting on this book, I had no idea that she used to be a dancer. I love f inding out things like that! My pictures tell the story from the perspective of three generations of a small family who pass women’s history (along with the history of their own family) down to their daughters. I hope it inspires you to do the same.
Illustrator’s Acknowledgments Thank you to all the women on whose shoulders I’ve stood. It’s because of you that I’ve realized my dreams.
Thanks also to my wonderful agent, Natalie Lakosil, and both of the terrif ic Scholastic editors who worked on this book, Orli Zuravicky and Katie Heit.
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