Shirley Chisholm Dared

The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress

By: Alicia D. Williams

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Discover the inspiring story of the first black woman elected to Congress and to run for president in this picture book biography from a Newbery Honor-winning author and a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning illustrator.

Meet Shirley, a little girl who asks way too many questions! After spending her early years on her grandparents' farm in Barbados, she returns home to Brooklyn and immediately makes herself known. Shirley kicks butt in school; she breaks her mother's curfew; she plays jazz piano instead of classical. And as a young adult, she fights against the injustice she sees around her, against women and black people. Soon she is running for state assembly...and winning in a landslide. Three years later, she is on the campaign trail again, as the first black woman to run for Congress. Her slogan? "Fighting Shirley Chisholm--Unbought and Unbossed!" Does she win? You bet she does.

Critic reviews

“An engaging account of Chisolm’s life…. This one is a cut above the rest." --School Library Journal

"A multilayered, folk art sensibility, featuring textures, angles, and expressive figures of differing skin tones. A solid primer on a Black political visionary.” --Publishers Weekly

"Created with acrylics and mixed-media collage, Harrison’s striking illustrations are notable for her use of line, color, and pattern. A handsome picture-book biography.” –-Booklist

“A timely and inspiring biography of a great woman who broke barriers and used her voice to elevate those around her.” --Kirkus

“Root[s] Chisholm in scene after scene as a pillar of self-assurance, equally unfazed by the acclaim, indifference, or opposition of the people around her.” --The Bulletin

Worth listening!

I really loved it! Makes me want to know more about Ms. Chisholm who she was!

Informative and inspiring

I wished the author had added her death and divorce in the story along with what she did while in Congress and running for president

Enjoyable

Glad to see more and more books about Shirley finally coming out.

This one is pretty surface level but a great one for young readers and to introduce them to a wonderful figure in US history.

CAN

Very short and concise. Nice overview. Moves along fluidly. Learned more about the life of an extraordinary person.