Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb

Illustrated by Rachelle Baker
Look inside
A timely picture book biography about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress, who sought the Democratic nomination to be the president of the United States.

Shirley Chisholm famously said, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." This dynamic biography illuminates how Chisholm was a doer, an active and vocal participant in our nation's democracy, and a force to be reckoned with. Now young readers will learn about her early years, her time in Congress, her presidential bid and how her actions left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire, uplift, and instruct.
© Jason Clampet
Veronica Chambers is a prolific author, best known for her critically acclaimed memoir Mama's Girl. She coauthored the award-winning memoir Yes, Chef with chef Marcus Samuelsson, as well as Samuelsson's young-adult memoir Make It Messy, and has collaborated on four New York Times bestsellers, most recently 32 Yolks, which she cowrote with chef Eric Ripert. She has been a senior editor at the New York Times MagazineNewsweek, and Glamour. Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, she writes often about her Afro-Latina heritage. She speaks, reads, and writes Spanish, but she is truly fluent in Spanglish. She is currently a John S. Knight journalism fellow at Stanford University. Her upcoming novel is The Go-Between. View titles by Veronica Chambers
  • NOMINEE
    Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award
RISE: A Feminist Book Project List selection
Read Aloud Indiana Reading List selection
Louisiana Readers' Choice nominee
Texas Topaz Reading List unanimous selection

"On almost every page, verbs such as speak, improve, listen, create, and do, in teal capital letters, pop against a white background, illuminating the vision and drive of this woman who pushed against and cracked glass ceilings. Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb! succeeds as an inspirational exploration of what it means to be a true woman of action."—New York Times Book Review

“An upbeat story of a dynamic pioneer whose tenacity and courage continue to inspire.”—Publishers Weekly

About

A timely picture book biography about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress, who sought the Democratic nomination to be the president of the United States.

Shirley Chisholm famously said, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." This dynamic biography illuminates how Chisholm was a doer, an active and vocal participant in our nation's democracy, and a force to be reckoned with. Now young readers will learn about her early years, her time in Congress, her presidential bid and how her actions left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire, uplift, and instruct.

Author

© Jason Clampet
Veronica Chambers is a prolific author, best known for her critically acclaimed memoir Mama's Girl. She coauthored the award-winning memoir Yes, Chef with chef Marcus Samuelsson, as well as Samuelsson's young-adult memoir Make It Messy, and has collaborated on four New York Times bestsellers, most recently 32 Yolks, which she cowrote with chef Eric Ripert. She has been a senior editor at the New York Times MagazineNewsweek, and Glamour. Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, she writes often about her Afro-Latina heritage. She speaks, reads, and writes Spanish, but she is truly fluent in Spanglish. She is currently a John S. Knight journalism fellow at Stanford University. Her upcoming novel is The Go-Between. View titles by Veronica Chambers

Awards

  • NOMINEE
    Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award

Praise

RISE: A Feminist Book Project List selection
Read Aloud Indiana Reading List selection
Louisiana Readers' Choice nominee
Texas Topaz Reading List unanimous selection

"On almost every page, verbs such as speak, improve, listen, create, and do, in teal capital letters, pop against a white background, illuminating the vision and drive of this woman who pushed against and cracked glass ceilings. Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb! succeeds as an inspirational exploration of what it means to be a true woman of action."—New York Times Book Review

“An upbeat story of a dynamic pioneer whose tenacity and courage continue to inspire.”—Publishers Weekly

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