FINK, Nadia. Frida Kahlo para niñas y niños. Bk. 1. ISBN 9780997328004.

––––. Violeta Parra para niñas y niños. Bk. 2. ISBN 9780997328035.

––––. Juana Azurduy para niñas y niños. Bk. 3. ISBN 9780997328028.

ea vol: illus. by Pitu Saá. 26p. (Colección Antiprincesas). Books del Sur. May 2016. pap. $12.99.

Gr 3 Up –In this “antiprincess collection,” young readers will have a chance to investigate the lives of women who have not followed what their cultures would deem traditional lives. Children may know about Frida Kahlo and her art, but they might not know about the terrible accident she had while riding a bus. While the books are written in a fun, conversational tone and the illustrations are inviting, the books also do not hide the difficulties these women experienced. The titles explore topics such as poverty and injustice and show how they played important roles in the subjects’ lives, as in the story of Juana Azurduy. Facts about these amazing women are combined with interesting anecdotes, such as the conversation between Violeta Parra and Don Antonio as he gives her a guitarrón. Activities and games follow each story, providing additional ways to explore life as the subject did. While the vignettes at times seem too short, the endings encourage further research. The often graphic novel–like art—vibrant, bold colors outlined in black—depicts scenes from the text and enhances the view of the subjects as strong heroines. In Frida Kahlo, reproductions of a few of Kahlo’s works are featured in Saá’s style. VERDICT An excellent choice for libraries seeking works in Spanish for elementary students, especially where biographies are needed.–Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX

This review was published in the School Library Journal September 2016 issue.