The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America

by Kathleen Krull, Alexandra Bye (Illustrator)

Overview

Discover the incredible life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, in this fascinating picture book biography that’s perfect for fans of I Dissent.

Most people know about President FDR, but do you know the woman who created his groundbreaking New Deal?

As a young girl, Frances Perkins was very shy and quiet. But her grandmother encouraged Frances to always challenge herself. When somebody opens a door to you, go forward.

And so she did.

Frances realized she had to make her voice heard, even when speaking made her uncomfortable, and use it to fight injustice and build programs to protect people across the nation. So when newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt finally asked Frances to be the first female Secretary of Labor and help pull the nation out of the Great Depression, she knew she had to walk through that open door and forward into history.

In this empowering, inspirational biography, discover how the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet led the charge to create the safety net that protects American workers and their families to this day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481491518
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	02/04/2020
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	245,357
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	NC950L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kathleen Krull (1952–2021) was the author of over 100 books, including No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader; A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull; Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought); The Only Woman in the Photo; and other acclaimed biographies for young readers. Visit her website at KathleenKrull.com.

Alexandra Bye is a freelance illustrator specializing in fun, colorful illustrations for a variety of media such as editorial and children’s publications. Her work is constantly inspired by her flourishing New England community and reflects the energy and dynamic personality of hometown pride. In her free time, she enjoys mountain biking, Nordic ski racing, Jiu Jitsu, studying nutritional therapy, and hiking in the White Mountains with her dog, Oliver.

Editorial Reviews

01/06/2020

“When someone opens a door to you, go forward.” Advice from Frances Perkins’s grandmother guided her life. Before she became “the first woman ever to join a presidential cabinet,” Perkins had transformed herself from a quiet observer to an effective activist, building a career on righting wrongs—operating as a social worker, speaking out for suffrage, reporting on hazardous workplaces, and advocating for fire safety after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. When FDR asks Perkins to serve as secretary of labor, she agrees—as long as “FDR allowed her to do it her way.” In 1935, Perkins achieved “her most far-reaching dream... the life-changing Social Security Act.” Weaving in quotes from Perkins, Krull crafts a deft introduction to the achievements of a remarkable woman. Bye’s snappy illustrations are notable for crisp lines and stylized period flair. Supplemental materials included. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Krull does a laudable job following Perkins from compassionate child, to champion of laborers, to industrial inspector, to advisor to the president, including plenty of quotes from Perkins that offer insight not only into her accomplishments but also into the personal struggle and strategies that allowed her to excel at early twentieth century politics on an all-boys team.

BCCB

"This empowering picture book biography of the first woman in a presidential cabinet — and the mastermind behind Roosevelt's New Deal — will encourage kids to imagine how their own voices could change the world."

December 2020 - A Mighty Girl's 2020 Books of the Year

"This inspiring biography of a woman who paved the way for so many future leaders...is long overdue. Krull’s straightforward yet passionate narrative is packed with information, succinctly pinpointing key biographical moments and explaining complex history. Direct quotes from Perkins in stylized hand-lettered script accompany Bye’s child-friendly digital illustrations, which are as dynamic and colorful as their remarkable subject."

March/April 2020 - Horn Book

* "Frances Perkins is credited with creating the U.S. Social Security system, so she's long overdue for some
attention....The book's presentation is appealing, the content is suitable for reading aloud, and the back matter and list of sources will be appreciated by researchers. This is a fitting tribute for an inspirational role model."

November 15, 2019 - Booklist - Starred Review

01/01/2020

Gr 3–6—Before she became a member of Franklin Roosevelt's cabinet, Frances Perkins was a shy girl who loved literature. While a college student at Mount Holyoke in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Perkins was required to observe the working conditions at local textile and paper mills. The treatment of the adult and children factory workers was horrifying to witness. She wrote articles about the terrible working environments and then earned a job documenting these conditions. After the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Perkins advocated for many of the fire safety features that are available today in every public building, like glass cases with fire extinguishers, fire exits, fire drills, and water sprinklers. She became the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary for FDR and was a crucial part of the New Deal. The illustrations are detailed without being too dense and help move the narrative forward. The text also contains details about the sexism Perkins faced and could start discussions about how society's attitudes toward gender have changed or stayed the same over the course of history. VERDICT This would be a serviceable biographical addition to any library collection. A resource for anyone who wishes to learn more about the women who helped shape the United States.—Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elementary, FL

School Library Journal

2019-10-09
"When someone opens a door to you, go forward."

From shy child to keen observer, vocal activist to highly effective political adviser, Frances Perkins led a life of tremendous worth, helping others as a volunteer, social worker, expert investigator, workplace-safety regulator, industrial commissioner, and, ultimately, the first woman Secretary of Labor. Brimming with realistic detail about the difficulties of pursuing one's goals and making a difference while functioning as a woman in the first half of the 20th century, this appealing volume features colorful and appealing animation-inflected illustrations peppered with ideas that inspired Perkins; these appear as banners, headlines, and signposts throughout the story. Krull smoothly describes Perkins' influences and motivations, her sensitivity to and awareness of injustice, how she overcame some of the fears and constraints she faced, her development as an advocate, and her many accomplishments—including her major contributions to (some say authorship of) FDR's New Deal and the adoption of the Social Security Act—in a kid-friendly and accessible manner, focusing almost entirely on Perkins' professional accomplishments. As for Perkins' personal life, the afterword briefly refers to her husband and daughter within the context of their "significant health problems" (both experienced mental illness), but the text is silent on Perkins' same-sex relationship following her husband's institutionalization.

Overall, an appealing, informative picture-book biography that showcases the accomplishments of a great American heroine. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews