Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought)

I don't know why this does not have an overall rating of 5. It's a great source for research and also great for spare-time reading.

This is a great little taste of what these women were like. It is easy to read and contains just enough info. I checked it out for myself while at the library with my kids. I loved it.

A friend brought LIVES OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN to a huge Thanksgiving feast; the book was never put down, it was constantly being read by one or another parent, teenager, or was being read to a younger daughter. I was surprised by the vehemently negative review posted here, and it made me delay my order by one day. But in the end, I ordered it -- actually, I ordered two. I find this book to be a good starting-point, the bios are 2-3 pages and well-written, and the drawings are engaging. It's a good overview book to get girls interested in these women, and they can go from there if they want more information. I don't think the author intended it to be a comprehensive encyclopedia, so judging it by that standard is unfair. I bought the book for my daughter, 9, and a niece, 6. It's perfectly written for that sort of age range. I hope the author writes more of these books -- this one only includes women who became rulers of their country (queens, presidents, prime ministers, etc. -- the majority seem to be from Britain, but also extending to Israel, China, Africa). I'd love more books of this kind that focus on women writers, women artists, and other extraordinary women.

In Lives Of Extraordinary Women, Kathleen Krull focuses on twenty women down through history who have held political power and influence. These biographical pieces showcase queens, warriors, prime ministers, first ladies, and revolutionary leaders. Some are notorious, others revered, and all were noteworthy women who succeeded in making their way through a male dominated. Enthusiastically recommended for school and community library collections, Lives Of Extraordinary Women's informative and engaging text is wonderfully illustrated throughout with the artistic talents of Kathryn Hewitt.