*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch on top of page*
A chance to get to know 12 inspirational women.
♥Children's Book of the Month: Sept 2021♥
Reading age (suggestion): 7+
Interest age (suggestion): 6-14+
Given the success of the first book, Genod Gwych a Merched Medrus, it’s hard to see how the author, Medi Jones-Jackson, could have improved on what was already in print. The first book received a great deal of attention following its publication in 2019 – it went on to secure a place on the Tir na n-Og Awards 2020 shortlist AND the shortlist for a brand-new award -Welsh Book of the Year for children and young people. Not bad for her first book, eh?
So just how do you ‘top’ the first book when expectations are already so high? When you think about it, the answer’s really quite simple - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Just publish another volume filled to the brim with amazingly talented women!
Genod Gwych 2
These really are extremely useful and informative books, which deserve their place on any bookshelf, whether that be at home or in school. As I said about the first book, don't make the mistake of thinking it’s a book for girls only. Boys, as well as girls will benefit greatly from reading it, and hopefully will be driven and inspired by some inspirational women from Wales’s past and present.
What I like most about factual books like this is the mix and variety found between the covers. Given how small Wales is in terms of size, it’s amazing that we’ve produced so much talent! I can imagine that one of the most difficult things the author had to do was pick which girls to include and which there was just no room for in this edition, because we’re lucky to have so many to choose from. If you like that sort of thing, you can find out more about the process of putting the book together at the back of the book, where a Q&A with the author has been included. Fascinating.
In addition to well-known celebrities such as Shirley Bassey, its good to learn more about lesser-known women, but who have made equally valuable contributions. I think most people who read this book will learn something new, or discover an amazing female that they were unaware of. It certainly opened my eyes, and I found out some really interesting things about women I hadn’t come across before such as Ann Pettitt, the peace campaigner and Professor Meena Upadhyaya, the scientist and genetics researcher. I’m glad these individuals, as well as the more well-known ones, are being recognized for their work.
There no space in a blog like this to discuss them all individually, and it would be impossible to choose a 'favourite' from the collection. What is clear is that all of their contributions are different and unique, but equally important. These are the remarkable girls included in this volume:
This is a book that shows off their achievements and is a lovely way of honouring their legacies, by presenting them to the next generation of girls. It is hoped, of course, that their stories will inspire the girls (and boys) of Wales to do incredible things, and their accomplishments and endeavours will hopefully fill several future volumes of this series!
"Not only does this colourful book burst with interesting facts, but it also includes a variety of activities to entertain the reader. "
Publisher: Y Lolfa
Released: 2021
Price: £5.99
ISBN: 978-1-180099-055-5
"I dare say that this book has improved on the first volume. An example of this is the inclusion of some real photographs to enrich the modern cartoon drawings of Telor Gwyn.”
