The Girl Who Wore Pants

In this emboldening biographical picture book, the creators trace the life of labor leader Luisa Capetillo (1879–1922). Portraying the figure in straightforward prose as “a restless, curious girl who loved to learn,” Isern details Capetillo’s childhood in Puerto Rico, where, after getting tangled in her skirts during a race, she donned a pair of her father’s old pants. Despite others’ judgment, she “had no intention of turning back,” and thus continued to reject prevailing ideas about behavior and dress. Eventually arrested in Cuba for wearing trousers, she inspired “many girls and women who followed her example, taking strong steps toward freedom.” In Gili’s rainbow-hued, thin-lined illustrations, an angularly rendered Capetillo strolls through the pages in a suit, defying the era’s gender norms. A repeating motif of spread-winged seagulls echoes the figure’s free-as-a-bird attitude. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 5–8. (Apr.)