From the big stage to the US Navy, from laboratories to the boardroom, from the Olympics to the pages in books, these girls and women lead every line. Bold, bright, and empowering profiles by Geisel Honor–winning and #1 New York Times bestselling artist Niña Mata place these incredible changemakers at the very front and inspire readers to tap into their own greatness.

A delightful book giving a glimpse into important figures in US History that helped to bring greater representation to the Asian American community, improved their lives, and/or changed everyone’s lives through their skills and policies. Mata’s illustrations are vibrant and colorful which will draw young readers in, and her succinct descriptions of the main points of their lives and accomplishments will give kids inspiration that they can succeed too.

There were several famous names I already knew like Vera Wang, Kamala Harris, Merritt Moore, and so on, but there were a lot more that were new to me. Such as: Mary Tape of Tape vs Hurley in 1885. She fought against public school segregation in California that separated Chinese students from the others, and won! This would become a precedent for Brown v Board.

Zarina Rashid Hashim was an artistic pioneer in the minimalist movement with her geometric and abstract shapes.

I knew Amy Tan wrote Joy Luck Club, but did you know she also wrote Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat?

Gyo Fujikawa was an illustrator for Walt Disney during the 1940s, saving her from Japanese Internment, and would go to illustrate for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Children’s Poems, and over fifty other children’s books. 

Helen Zia, a journalist and activist who covered the hate crime killings of Vincent Chen, igniting the Asian American movement in 80s.

Geena Rocero, transgender model and activist.  

Tye Leung Schulze, mentored and aided by famous activist, Donaldina Cameron in helping women escape the yellow slave trade in 1800s. She would go on to become an interpreter for Angel Island Detention Center, giving comfort and translation to Asian immigrants, and would become the first Asian women to vote in the US when California gave women suffrage.

Dr. Kazue Togasaki was successful obstetrician in the Japanese internment camps, and would g on to rebuild her practice when released and deliver thousands more for her community.

Ruby Ibarra, songwriter and rapper for hit songs, Someday, Lost Without You and more.