Back of Book:
Built by women in the United States and sent to England to dig and plow alongside female farmers during World War II, Rosie the tractor does whatever is needed to support the war effort. She works day and night to help grow crops for the troops…even when she has to hide in the fields. This is because she knows, like the women who built her and the women who farm with her, that they all must do their part.
Inspired by the group of American women collectively known as “Rosie the Riveter” and the British Women’s Land Army, this is a story about taking action and coming together for the greater good.
My Review:
I am so excited to be apart of the book tour for Rosie Stronger than Steel. I received a review copy from Blue Slip Media.
This historical first-person narrative follows Rosie, a tractor that was built during World War II with random scraps. This historical period follows the women who were called to work while the men were at war. Rosie was built in a factory and sent to a farm to help the cause and feed the troops. No matter what the load, Rosie continues to work. The text is broken up between her story, and the lyrical chants she sings. Lindsey did a fantastic job of bringing history to life. Her illustrations capture war effort in a realistic, and colorful way. My favorite illustration is of the shadow of the plane going over Rosie. The back of the book shares more information about the women who worked during World War II. This a fantastic nonfiction biography and one that should not be missed.
Ages 6 and up
40 Pages
Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as This Book Is Gray, Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play. Lindsay lives with her family in Peninsula, Ohio, where she often sees tractors from the 1930s and 1940s. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.
Reviewers love Rosie!
★“More than the sum of its parts, this is a wildly successful and well-researched shaping of the picture-book form to true historical sheroes.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★“This ‘little tractor that could’ sort of tale pays tribute to the iconic Rosie the Riveter persona from the US and the British Land Girls of the Women’s Land Army during WWII. Fans of Loren Long’s Otis, Virginia Lee Burton’s Katy, and like sturdy, dependable workhorses will welcome Rosie into the fold, but the historical perspective adds an unusual dimension to her story.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Vocabulary is rich, and the younger set will appreciate the intermittent rhymes. The style of Ward’s colored pencil and cut-paper illustrations reflect the period of the tale. ” —School Library Journal
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