
By Kathleen Krull, Alexandra Bye (Illustrator)
A shy woman shapes history, crafting the New Deal and changing America forever.
Frances Perkins, once a quiet girl, becomes the first female Secretary of Labor, crafting the New Deal to rescue America from the Great Depression. Encouraged by her grandmother's wisdom, Frances steps through history's open door, fighting injustice and building a safety net for workers. How did this reserved woman become a pivotal force in shaping the nation? Discover her journey of courage and determination in this inspiring biography.
“One day, she testified before Congress, and a Congress man remarked, “She’s an awful smart woman, but I’d hate to be married to her.” When Frances heard about the insult, she laughed it off retorting that “I hadn’t asked him.” She had a job to do.”
— from the book
Discover the incredible life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, in this fascinating picture book biography that’s perfect for fans of I Dissent. Most people know about President FDR, but do you know the woman who created his groundbreaking New Deal? As a young girl, Frances Perkins was very shy and quiet. But her grandmother encouraged Frances to always challenge herself. When somebody opens a door to you, go forward. And so she did. Frances realized she had to make her voice heard, even when speaking made her uncomfortable, and use it to fight injustice and build programs to protect people across the nation. So when newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt finally asked Frances to be the first female Secretary of Labor and help pull the nation out of the Great Depression, she knew she had to walk through that open door and forward into history. In this empowering, inspirational biography, discover how the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet led the charge to create the safety net that protects American workers and their families to this day.
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