I
am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN
SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS by Rachel Ignotofsky Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar
Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to
enter the giveaway!
About
The Books:
Title: WHAT'S INSIDE A FLOWER
Author: Rachel
Ignotofsky
Pub. Date: February
2, 2021
Publisher: Crown Books
for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 48
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
From the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women
in Science, comes a new nonfiction picture book series ready to grow young
scientists by nurturing their curiosity about the natural world--starting with
what's inside a flower.
Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning
introduction to these flowery show-stoppers--from seeds to roots to blooms.
Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and
inquiry.
In the launch of a new nonfiction picture book series, Rachel Ignotofsky's
distinctive art style and engaging, informative text clearly answers any
questions a child (or adult) could have about flowers.
Reviews:
"The lush, geometric
illustrations are the superstars of this adventure, drawing in readers
from the front endpapers to the rear . . . A beautiful bloom for the
nature shelf." - Kirkus Reviews
"There’s an abundance of detail in this attractive first
work in the “What’s Inside” series, but it’s never overwhelming . . . The
pages overflow with life." - Booklist
Title: WOMEN
IN SCIENCE
Author: Rachel
Ignotofsky
Pub. Date: July
26, 2016
Publisher: Ten Speed
Press
Formats: Hardcover,
Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 126
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
Exclusive Edition, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Women in Science highlights
the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full
of striking, singular art, this collection also contains infographics about
relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM
fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The women profiled include
well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known
pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and
mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to
the moon.
Reviews:
"With the help of eye-catching artwork,
Ignotofsky celebrates not just astronauts, but also the engineers, biologists,
mathematicians, and physicists who’ve blazed a trail for women in STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields from the ancient to
modern world. The book elevates this information with beautiful and
instructive infographics that delve into topics like the number of women
currently working in STEM fields."– Entertainment Weekly (online)
"With short, inspiring stories and the accessibility of a graphic novel. .
.the perfect book to share with the science- and tech-minded people (male and
female, young and old) in your life. . . .The must-read, girl-power STEM
book."– InStyle.com
"This book of illustrated biographies of scientific pioneers is hands-down
gorgeous. . . .Kids will love paging through this, looking at all the detailed
drawings, but they'll likely have to rip it out of the hands of the adults who
are marveling at each new page of factoids."– Sarah Mirk, Bitch
Media
"The book is a beautifully curated collection of personal narratives from
female scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines, with a
dash of whimsy thrown in." – Upworthy
"I applaud Ignotofsky and her publisher for telling these important
stories about women through such a rich, visual medium. The world needs more
books like this."– ScientificAmerican.com's Symbiartic
". . .an illustrated homage to some of the most influential and
inspiring women in STEM. . . .Ignotofsky captures the heartbreaking
inequalities that only amplify the impressiveness of these women’s feats."–
Maria Popova, BrainPickings.org
". . .a clever introduction to women scientists through history."–
Science Friday
Author: Rachel
Ignotofsky
Pub. Date: July
18, 2017
Publisher: Ten Speed
Press
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 128
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Women in Sports highlights notable women's
contributions to competitive athletics to inspire readers young and old.
Keeping girls interested in sports has never been more important: research suggests
that girls who play sports get better grades and have higher self-esteem--but
girls are six times more likely to quit playing sports than boys and are
unlikely to see female athlete role models in the media. A fascinating
collection full of striking, singular art, Women in Sports features 50 profiles
and illustrated portraits of women athletes from the 1800s to today including
trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 40 different sports.
The book also contains infographics about relevant topics such as muscle
anatomy, a timeline of women's participation in sports, statistics about women
in athletics, and influential female teams.
Reviews:
"Exhaustive and enlightening—don't miss
it."– Kirkus Reviews
"This is one of the books we've been waiting for—a compendium of great
women athletes and the struggles they faced. As Billie Jean King taught us,
‘Pressure is a privilege.’"– Lesley Visser, Hall of Fame sportscaster
"This luminescent book tells the stories of women and girls who have not
only excelled in athletics, but also often changed the world by doing so. I was
agog at these lively biographies, and dazzled by the accompanying illustrations
that seem to cartwheel, swim, pole vault, and double flip off the page. This is
a book for girls who want inspiration on the field, in the pool, or down the
track. It’s also for girls who aren’t sporty at all, but love stories of courage,
perseverance, sass, doggedness, and fun. And don’t forget the boys, who will be
riveted by these rollicking tales and who need to see that girl power has been
alive and well for many years, and is alive and well today."– Caroline
Paul, author of The Gutsy Girl
"Rachel Ignotofsky's delightful book renders the healthy pleasure of
sports for girls and women in buoyant color and form—from Bloomer Girls to
Skate Bettys, in calf length skirts or disguised as men—reminding us that no
matter if you are nine or ninety-eight, the question to ask is, ‘What is my
next victory?’"– Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl
"What an inspiring book! These beautifully drawn
portraits cover the triumphs and troubles of fifty athletes—some
you've heard of and many you haven't. There's a familiar pattern to these
stories: A woman sets her mind on something, someone tells her it can't be
done, and she goes ahead and does it anyway, setting records along the way.
You'll cheer for these ladies, and for author Rachel Ignotofsky."– Lisa
Taggart, author of Women Who Win
WOMEN IN SPORTS EXCERPT:
INTRODUCTION
“The weaker sex!” It wasn’t the first times those untrue words were said, and
it wouldn’t be the last. It’s what Bobby Riggs, a former tennis champ, said
about women in 1973. But tennis player Billie Jean King stood up to this bully.
With masterful skill, physical strength, and a sense of self-worth, Billie Jean
would change the world with her tennis racket.
Throughout history, women have been stereotyped as weak and routinely excluded
from competitions, gyms, teams, and sports clubs. With no arena in which to
prove themselves fit and strong, it was hard for women to fight this sexism. Of
course, this stereotype has pervaded other segments of society throughout
history. Women have been denied educational, civic, business, and leadership
opportunities and have had to prove they are just as smart and hardworking as
men. Female athletes like Billie Jean have had to fight the most basic
stereotype of all: that women’s bodies are inherently not as strong or capable
as men’s. Their progress has been truly inspiring.
During the 1970s, the feminist movement was in full swing in the United States,
United Kingdom, and other developed nations. Women were demanding equal pay and
equal opportunities. In 1972, the United States passed Title IX as part of the
Education Amendments, making it illegal for U.S. schools to discriminate in
funding based on gender. For the first time, many schools began funding women’s
sports programs, and colleges began giving out women’s sports scholarships.
Finally, women could pursue their athletic passions and show the world their
true strength.
The backlash was inevitable. Many still thought women should do only
traditional “ladylike” activities. Tennis player Bobby Riggs wanted to prove
that women had no place in sports by beating the best female tennis player,
Billie Jean King. In 1973, he challenged her to a “battle of the sexes” tennis
match. At first she declined. But when Bobby beat Grand Slam winner Margaret
Court in the “Mother’s Day massacre” game, Billie Jean understood there was
more at stake than just a tennis match.
The whole world was watching as Billie Jean and Bobby entered the tennis court.
Winning would not be enough; she would have to wipe the floor with him. And she
did: 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3 for each set. Billie threw her racket into the air in
victory as the crowd went wild!
Women around the world watched Billie Jean and felt empowered to stand up for
themselves. Many thanked her for inspiring them to finally ask for a pay raise
or a promotion. Men wanted their daughters to grow up strong and brave like
Billie Jean. She used her sports star status as a leader off the court as well,
lobbying and creating initiatives for equal opportunities in the workforce for
women and people of color. This is the cultural power of sports: through
entertainment and competition, they inspire courage. The fight for social
justice often starts in the field or on the court. Through historic victories
and setting new records, female athletes like Billie Jean shared their stories,
broke down stereotypes, and created change.
Sports have always been a part of human culture, and athletes become heroes,
social icons, and positive role models. Although sports should be about skill
and hard work, societal prejudices often prevented women from competing. It
took gutsy, fearless women to break down these barriers—to defy the rules, be
resourceful, and take dangerous risks—all to prove their strength,
independence, and ability to lead and change the world.
When the newspapers scoffed that a “weak “woman like Gertrude Ederle couldn’t
swim across the English Channel, Gertrude decided that she would either drown
or triumph. She triumphed—and set a new world record in 1926. When Althea
Gibson, a black woman, played tennis during the segregation era, her talent was
so undeniable she was able to cross the color line and become the first African
American to showcase her skills at Wimbledon. The world would judge her on her
skills, not her skin color, helping the civil rights movement and paving the
way for athletic greats like Serena Williams. When Sue Sally Hale was told
women were not allowed to play polo, she disguised herself as a man for 20
years to play the sport she loved. Sue Sally eventually leveraged her secret to
force polo to become a co-ed sport, allowing her to become a leader on the
field.
These are just a few examples of female athletes who proved their worth as
individuals, showing the world what women can do and creating more
opportunities for future generations. There are still problems in women’s
athletics, such as a lack of funding and media coverage, and unequal pay. But
with each generation, women defy expectations and accomplish feats of strength
that challenge the status quo. This book is filled with stories of little girls
who grew up to achieve their greatest dreams—stories of women who pushed
themselves to the limit, did the impossible, and became legends.
About Rachel Ignotofsky:
Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times Best
Selling author and illustrator, based in beautiful Santa Barbara.
She grew up in New Jersey on a healthy diet of cartoons and pudding
and graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2011.
Now Rachel works for herself and spends
all day and night drawing, writing and learning as much as she can. Rachel is a
published author with 10 Speed Press and Random House Kids. She is always
thinking up new ideas.
Check out her books:
What’s Inside A Flower?
The Wondrous
Workings of Planet Earth
Women In
Science
Women in Art
Women In
Sports
Her work is inspired by history and science. She
believes that illustration is a powerful tool that can make learning
exciting. She has a passion for taking dense information and making
it fun and accessible. Rachel hopes to use her work to spread her message
about scientific literacy and feminism.
If you like what you see and would like to
have it for yourself, please visit her shop.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway
Details:
3
winners will win a finished copy of WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE,
and WOMEN IN SPORTS, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour
Schedule:
Week
One:
Week
Two:
