Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business (A Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Chapter Book)

by Rebel Girls (Author) Salini Perera (Illustrator)

From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire.

Sarah is the first person in her family who wasn't born into slavery in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn't mean that Sarah doesn't have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair.

One day, Sarah's hair starts to fall out! It's itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won't grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she's used before. Her hair grows and grows! That's when she decides to rebrand herself as "Madam C. J. Walker," and begins her business empire.

Madam C. J. Walker Builds a Business is the story of a leader in the hair care industry, but it's also an inspiring tale about the importance of empowering women to become economically independent.

This historical fiction chapter book includes additional text on Madam C. J. Walker's lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to encourage entrepreneurship.

About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series

Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!

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Publishers Weekly

This first chapter book from Rebel Girls profiles the first female self-made millionaire, Sarah Breedlove (1867-1919), the mastermind behind the Madame C.J. Walker empire and leading voice in support of natural hair care for black women. The story begins with Breedlove's childhood; she was the first in her family not born into slavery and to attend school. As a widowed single mother, she meets Annie Turnbo, creator of the "Wonderful Hair Grower" shampoo, which transforms her life and eventually inspires her own creation: "Madame C.J. Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower." Full-color illustrations by debut illustrator Perera highlight seminal scenes from Breedlove's life and further humanize the historical figure. Rooted in fact, this lightly fictionalized account gives readers an opportunity to connect with Breedlove as a storied individual whose entrepreneurial prowess and support of black women continues to impact people today. A closing activity encourages readers to imagine their own unique product, with accompanying advertising and elevator pitch. Also available: Ada Lovelace. Ages 6-9. (Nov.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An inspiring story for any young girl waiting to make her mark on society."— "Kirkus Reviews"
Rebel Girls
JESS HARRITON (editor and author) is an editor at Rebel Girls, working on stories to delight and inspire girls 7 to 12. Previously, she was an editor at Penguin Random House, where she worked with best-selling and award-winning authors. Her writing has appeared in Concrete Literary Magazine and HelloGiggles.com. Jess graduated from Emerson College in 2013. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, in an apartment filled with books.

MAITHY VU (editor and author) is a Vietnamese American writer who loves surrealism and most things odd. While earning her BA in theater arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz, she spent time writing poetry, plays, and slightly bizarre sketches for an all-women comedy team. Maithy published her novella, Wounded Wisteria, in 2015, combining fiction in verse with her own watercolor illustrations. She earned her MLA in creative writing and literature at Harvard Extension School, where she completed her first novel, Squid Season. In early 2019, Maithy joined the editorial team at Rebel Girls. Since then, her colleagues have been given compulsory lectures about Taylor Swift on a weekly basis.

BINDI IRWIN (foreword) is a passionate wildlife conservationist, who has inherited her parents' love for wildlife and wild places. Born to Wildlife Warriors Steve and Terri Irwin, Bindi is a determined soul, destined to make a positive difference on the planet. Australia Zoo has always been her home. Every animal is part of her family. As Bindi has grown, so has her passion for conservation. She has traveled the world, visiting wild places, to learn more about the planet she wants to protect into the future. Through Wildlife Warriors, Bindi continues to work with her family to share the message of conservation.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781953424006
Lexile Measure
820
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Rebel Girls
Publication date
February 07, 2023
Series
A Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Chapter Book
BISAC categories
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV004020 - Juvenile Fiction | Biographical | United States
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
JUV006000 - Juvenile Fiction | Business, Careers, Occupations
JUV036020 - Juvenile Fiction | Technology | Inventions
Library of Congress categories
Historical fiction
Biographical fiction
Walker, C. J.
African American businesspeople
Minority businesswomen

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