Deborah Hopkinson

Award Winning Author of Fiction & Nonfiction for Children & Teens

Thanks to Frances Perkins

Fighter for Workers’ Rights

Thanks to Frances Perkins

What is this book about?

At 31, Frances Perkins wit­nessed the Tri­an­gle Waist Fac­to­ry fire in 1911, one of the worst indus­tri­al dis­as­ters in Unit­ed States his­to­ry. The event for­ev­er changed her, and she ded­i­cat­ed her­self to the fight for work­ers’ rights.

When she became Sec­re­tary of Labor in Franklin Delano Roo­sevelt’s admin­is­tra­tion, she had the oppor­tu­ni­ty to make real her bold vision of a coun­try where no one is left out and every­one is pro­tect­ed. Thanks to her efforts, we have the Social Secu­ri­ty pro­gram, a move that changed Amer­i­cans’ lives for gen­er­a­tions to come.

Deb­o­rah Hop­kin­son’s ener­getic text and Kristy Cald­well’s appeal­ing illus­tra­tions unite to tell Perkins’ fas­ci­nat­ing sto­ry as well as intro­duce ear­ly con­cepts of finan­cial lit­er­a­cy, the Social Secu­ri­ty Act, and the New Deal. Back mat­ter fea­tures more infor­ma­tion about Frances Perkins, Social Secu­ri­ty, and resources for eco­nom­ic education.

Awards and Accolades

  • Notable Social Stud­ies Trade Books for Young Peo­ple / NCSS/CBC / 2021

Reviews

Reviews

“The live­ly text presents Perkins’ life and times, while empha­siz­ing her sig­nif­i­cant con­tri­bu­tions to soci­ety. Cre­at­ed using pleas­ant, sub­dued col­ors, the well-com­posed dig­i­tal illus­tra­tions bring past eras into focus and show Perkins’ deter­mined work on behalf of oth­ers. An infor­ma­tive pic­ture-book biog­ra­phy of a notable Amer­i­can.” (Book­list)

“Infor­ma­tive … guardians seek­ing a woman activist’s frame­work, with action­able steps that res­onate today, will find this pic­ture book attrac­tive.” (Pub­lish­ers Week­ly)

“Engag­ing … An infor­ma­tive por­trait of an activist and advo­cate whose accom­plish­ments are still evi­dent today.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“An infor­ma­tive pic­ture book pro­fil­ing an influ­en­tial woman in the labor rights move­ment.” (School Library Jour­nal)

Thanks to Frances Perkins

author, Deb­o­rah Hop­kin­son
illus­tra­tor, Kristy Cald­well
Peachtree Pub­lish­ing
ages 6 and up, 2020
ISBN 978–1682631362

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