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One powerful voice can effect powerful change.

Polish Jewish immigrant Rose Schneiderman was 8 when she arrived in New York City with her parents in the late 19th century. Even as a child, she loved talking and arguing about ideas. At age 13, she left school to help support her family, finding employment in a hat factory. In early-20th-century New York, this meant buying her own sewing machine and enduring long hours in dirty, unsafe, and unfair working conditions. Having kept silent for fear of losing her much-needed job, Rose finally spoke up upon learning women earned less than men; organizing female co-workers to protest as a group was key, and some conditions improved, including wage increases. This victory of sorts eventually led to others. In 1909, Rose led a massive strike for factory workers’ rights. As time went on, more employees, employers, then journalists and politicians heeded this woman of small stature (only 4-foot-9) and big voice, and factory conditions continued to improve, particularly after her rousing address at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. This is a quiet, respectful, stirring look at a courageous workers’ rights champion, written in straightforward, accessible prose. The simple illustrations are cast mostly in brown shades, reflecting the somberness of poverty and dire labor practices. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An inspiring portrait of a woman committed to making a difference and whose influence is still felt to this day. (more about Rose Schneiderman, author's note) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)  --Kirkus Reviews

A diminu­tive red-head­ed immi­grant to the Unit­ed States who began work­ing full-time when she was thir­teen years old: Rose Schnei­der­man may seem an unlike­ly hero­ine or some­one des­tined to improve the lives of her fel­low work­ers, but Rose cer­tain­ly didn’t know that. Nor did she antic­i­pate that the sweat­shop that employed her and many oth­er women would be freez­ing in the win­ter, swel­ter­ing in the sum­mer, and filthy all the time. San­i­ta­tion was not a pri­or­i­ty — rats were every­where — and dan­ger was a con­stant. Rose also noticed that women were rou­tine­ly paid less than men. Her deter­mi­na­tion to improve con­di­tions for all work­ers led this young vision­ary on a path toward a remark­able career.

The Inter­na­tion­al Ladies Gar­ment Work­ers Union, which helps employ­ees receive ben­e­fits and equi­table treat­ment, is one result of Rose’s activism. She is a role mod­el for today’s young people.

Although Rose Spoke Out is a pic­ture book aimed at kids who are five through eight, old­er chil­dren and adults will find the sto­ry fas­ci­nat­ing, too. The art evokes the era, enhanc­ing the reader’s over­all expe­ri­ence. The book con­cludes with his­tor­i­cal pho­tographs and a note about tikkun olam, or mak­ing the world a bet­ter place.  --The Jewish Book Council

 

 

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