Loud and Proud: The Life of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm

Cline-Ransome and Juanita’s biography of trailblazing Black politician Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005) aptly evokes the “Unbought and Unbossed” woman who shook up U.S. politics. Born Shirley Anita St. Hill, the young figure “talked big, walked tall, and told just about everyone what to do.” Witnessing her parents’ hard work to feed her family in Brooklyn, and overhearing her father’s union-focused talk, she began “looking for answers in a world that seemed to turn its back on people who had less.” A full scholarship to Brooklyn College engaged her in the debate club and the NAACP, and she listened when a professor suggested she go into politics. Getting signatures to run for the New York State Assembly in 1964, she faced pushback that spurred her toward greater determination. Juanita’s inventive digital illustrations recreate Chisholm’s quotes in speech bubbles that seem to embody the loftiness of thunderheads, aptly suggesting force-of-nature stature for a figure who wanted “to be remembered as a catalyst for change in America.” Secondary characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note and timeline conclude. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)