Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around the World

What is a visionary? We usually think of people who dare to dream and think outside the box: to see things differently, and change the way everyone else sees the world.

The women in Vashti Harrison’s book certainly fill this criteria, and Harrison takes pains to remind us that with great acclaim comes years of hard work – and, sometimes, the acclaim is rather late in coming at all, especially for women. Persistence and the willingness to make mistakes are key characteristics of all the women described – and are excellent qualities for all children to aspire to.

More famous names such as Hedy Lamarr (although we know her more as a screen siren than the inventor of the technology that provided the basis for Wi-Fi), Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace and Frida Kahlo sit alongside Australian ceramicist Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher, writer and activist Mahasweta Devi and Iranian visual artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian. This is a beautifully illustrated book ideal for primary school children.