Join Us to Learn About Some Amazing Historical Characters! 

From the shoemaker of royalty, to the justice of the people, from a Mexican freedom fighter asserting her right to wear pants, to the first Latina in space, these role models and their inspiring stories are perfect for young readers! 

Tune in to meet:

• Jimmy's Shoes: The Story of Jimmy Choo, Shoemaker to a Princess by PATRICIA TANUMIHARDJA. On the island of Penang, Jimmy Choo is born into a family of shoemakers, where he learns to make all kinds of shoes. After learning all he can at home, Jimmy immigrates to London, to study shoemaking by day and English by night. He works hard until he can launch his own business, Lucky Shoes. Before long, he starts to make waves in the London fashion scene. One day, he gets a call from a very special customer — Diana, Princess of Wales, wants him to design shoes just for her. And the rest is history!
  
  
• Justice Ketanji: The Story of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson by DENISE LEWIS PATRICK and illustrated by KIM HOLT. Ketanji Brown Jackson knew from the very beginning that “You can do anything. You can be anything.” Driven by those powerful words and her parents' love, Ketanji refused to let naysayers stop her from rising to the top, whether it was participating in her high school debate team, applying to her dream college, or excelling at Harvard. Her perseverance and her wits led her to become the first Black female U.S. District Judge and eventually the first Black female Supreme Court Justice. Ketanji’s remarkable journey proves how she is a Justice for all.
  
  

• Jovita Wore Pants: the Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by AIDA SALAZAR. Jovita dreamed of wearing pants! She hated the big skirts Abuela made her wear. She wanted to scale the tallest mesquite tree on her rancho and ride her horse, free of the cumbersome skirts! When her father and brothers joined the Cristero War to fight for religious freedom, Jovita wanted to go, too. Forbidden, she defied her father’s rules – and society’s – and found a clever way to become a trailblazing revolutionary, wearing pants!

• Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa by DOREEN RAPPAPORT. Young Ellen loved to learn. She graduated at the top of her high school and college classes, and studied electrical engineering in graduate school. An accomplished engineer by age 30, with three patents to her name, she kept learning and trying new things. When NASA began accepting women and people of color to the astronaut program, Ellen found herself drawn to this exciting and demanding career. On her first mission, she was the only woman aboard the shuttle Discovery and the first Latina to reach outer space!

Saturday, September 23rd at 1PM EST via Crowdcast! 

For all Books of Wonder events, we expect all participants to maintain a family friendly atmosphere, inclusive of respect and fairness. Anyone who violates this standard of behavior, including engaging in any form of harassment, inappropriate language, or disruptive conduct, will, at our discretion, be immediately removed.