A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story

Boxer and Freeman pay tribute to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dismantling of barriers in this picture book biography of the pioneering lawmaker. Highlighting the powerful impact of her upbringing as the daughter of Baltimore’s first Italian American mayor, a young Pelosi is shown watching her mother feed and listen to hungry and marginalized citizens around their dining table. Parallel vignettes show her mother and, later, Pelosi herself carrying out behind-the-scenes political activism while raising young families. Full-color digital illustrations often depict the figure with an inclusive group of constituents in the background, while a straightforward narrative reinforces themes of service and support of underrepresented groups. This succinct biography ends suddenly with the January 2021 Capitol insurrection, but a final close-up of Pelosi in a face mask, wielding her gavel, sends a resilient message. An author’s note and an excerpt from an author interview with Pelosi conclude, along with a selected bibliography. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)