A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women's Rights

by Kate Hannigan, Alison Jay (Illustrator)

Overview

Written in the same vein as the recent best-selling titles I DISSENT and SHE PERSISTED, here is a nonfiction picture book biography of trailblazer Belva Lockwood, the first woman lawyer to argue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Belva was a lawyer, activist and presidential candidate who devoted her life to overcoming obstacles and demanding equality for women.

Activist Belva Lockwood never stopped asking herself the question Are women not worth the same as men? She had big dreams and didn't let anyone stand in her way—not her father, her law school, or even the U.S. Supreme Court. She fought for equality for women in the classroom, in the courtroom, and in politics. In her quest for fairness and parity, Lockwood ran for President of the United States, becoming the first woman on the ballot. In this riveting nonfiction picture book biography, award-winning author Kate Hannigan and celebrated artist Alison Jay illuminate the life of Lockwood, a woman who was never afraid to take the floor and speak her mind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635925555
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.06(w) x 10.01(h) x 0.16(d)
Lexile:	880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Chicago children's author Kate Hannigan writes fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A former newspaper journalist, she loves listening to people's stories and digging deep into research. Her newest title is the nonfiction graphic novel THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE: RISING FROM THE ASHES. Kate's nonfiction picture book biography A LADY HAS THE FLOOR received a Society of Midland Authors honor, was named to the Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best" list, a Rhode Island Book Award nominee, A Mighty Girl Best of 2018 selection, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and earned four starred reviews.

Alison Jay is a graduate of the London College of Printing and is the acclaimed illustrator of many picture books, including THE CLOUD SPINNER, written by Michael Catchpool, and A GIFT FOR MAMA, by Linda Ravin Lodding. Alison's signature style is created using alkyd paint on thick cartridge paper, with a crackle varnish, giving an aged effect.

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/20/2017
Hannigan presents an invigorating account of the life of Belva Lockwood, taking readers from her childhood in Niagara County, N.Y., to her career as one of the first women lawyers in the U.S. to her 1884 run for president (“Are women not worth the same as men? Belva spent her whole life asking that question.”). Working in her distinctively crackled folk style, Jay depicts powerful moments of resistance and courage from Lockwood’s life—whether storming into a classroom or protesting before the Supreme Court. Endnotes provide a timeline of Lockwood’s life and beyond, highlighting significant events in the ongoing fight for women’s rights and concluding with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run. Ages 9–12. Author’s agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Lorraine Owen, the Organisation. (Jan.)Correction: An earlier version of this review conflated the names of the author and the book's subject in the final sentence.

Publishers Weekly

★“(An) informative and delightful biography… Hannigan’s style is pithy, but packed with facts. Belva comes alive as a feisty activist…Jay’s signature crackled artwork has a historical look, but also a childlike appeal that will bring the audience close. An excellent example of picture-book biography.” — Booklist, starred review

★“This is an engaging introduction to a woman unknown to many, young and old, giving some insight into her adventurous personality. Her quotes are integrated into the illustrations, executed in oils with a crackle varnish, with a look reminiscent of 19th-century folk art. Soft blues and browns predominate in the naïve paintings, lending to their antique appearance. An excellent, well-researched model of its genre, which will inspire children to do whatever they desire in life, no matter what immediate restrictions exist.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★“Hannigan presents an invigorating account of the life of Belva Lockwood…Working in her distinctively crackled folk style, Jay depicts powerful moments of resistance and courage from Lockwood’s life. Endnotes provide a timeline…highlighting significant events in the ongoing fight for women’s rights.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

★"Young Belva Lockwood was afraid of nothing...and refused to be silenced. Students will...be amazed at the fearlessness of this unsung champion of equal pay, equal opportunities, and equal respect for all. Highly Recommended." — School Library Connection, starred review

“Hannigan thoroughly details Lockwood’s many triumphs, beginning with her childhood and young adult years, and concluding with her unsuccessful, though impressive, run for president. Nearly each page offers a quote from Lockwood’s speeches and writings and most resonate with today’s political climate…A time line provides dates and pertinent facts about the subject and the accomplishments of other women in law and politics. Lockwood’s struggles against great odds in the name of freedom are well outlined in this work. A fine addition to nonfiction collections.” — School Library Journal

“Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood managed to rack up a string of women’s ‘firsts’ by storming the gates during a period in which Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony could seem somewhat passive in comparison. Jay(‘s) folk-art style with elongated figures, (and) muted tones… convey a sense of antiquity.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

12/01/2017
Gr 3–5—An early proponent of equal rights for women, Belva Lockwood was one of the first female lawyers in the United States and the first to argue (and win) a case before the Supreme Court. Facing nonstop opposition, she campaigned for equal pay, equal educational opportunities, and equal rights to vote and hold office for white women and people of color. ("Belva helped poor widows, Civil War veterans, and freed slaves for what they deserved.") Hannigan thoroughly details Lockwood's many triumphs, beginning with her childhood and young adult years, and concluding with her unsuccessful, though impressive, run for president. The narrative concentrates mainly on her professional accomplishments; much of her personal life is noted in the time line. Nearly each page offers a quote from Lockwood's speeches and writings and most resonate with today's political climate; however, the script font used for these quotes may challenge readers. A time line provides dates and pertinent facts about the subject and the accomplishments of other women in law and politics (Hattie Wyatt Caraway, Shirley Chisholm, Sandra Day O'Connor, etc.). VERDICT Lockwood's struggles against great odds in the name of freedom are well outlined in this work. A fine addition to nonfiction collections.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, NY

School Library Journal

★ 2017-11-13
Belva Lockwood was a teacher, a lawyer (first woman to enter the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court), a suffragist, and a presidential candidate.This remarkable woman stands out for many reasons, including her two presidential campaigns in 1884 and 1888. Belva's awareness of women's issues came early. She became a teacher at 14 but found out that she was only paid half of a man's salary. Later, her father did not want her to attend college (even though she was 24, already a widow and a mother), and the college she attended did not want her to study what were traditionally men's subjects: "math, science and politics." Law school proved to be an even bigger challenge. After she was finally allowed to attend, she was denied a diploma upon graduation and had to demand it from President Ulysses S. Grant (also the president of the law school). She is also known for winning a major Supreme Court case on behalf of the Cherokee nation. This is an engaging introduction to a woman unknown to many, young and old, giving some insight into her adventurous personality. In one illustration, the white woman rides a penny-farthing bicycle (in her floor-length skirt), just like the male lawyers in Washington, D.C. Her quotes are integrated into the illustrations, executed in oils with a crackle varnish, with a look reminiscent of 19th-century folk art. Soft blues and browns predominate in the naïve paintings, lending to their antique appearance. An excellent, well-researched model of its genre that will inspire children to do whatever they desire in life, no matter what immediate restrictions exist. (author's note, timeline, bibliography, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 8-11)

Kirkus Reviews