Girls Can - Book Review

Girls Can is a delightful children’s book written by Deb Preston and beautifully illustrated by James Henry Dufresne. Preston, the mother of a young daughter, has written a read-aloud picture book that will delight girls and their mothers. Not only does Preston validate the “girly-girly” nature of girls who prefer pink princess gowns, but she also empowers girls to try other roles. In addition, she addresses the girl listener personally as “you” to engage her and encourage her to explore traditionally male activities by providing inspiring suggestions as to what girls can do.

Using rhyming and the illustrator’s enchanting full-color drawings, Preston compares and contrasts typical male and female roles that are available to girls. As an example of the juxtaposition between what girls are expected to be and do is a page with a drawing of a diva with jewelry and a girl in a wheelchair with a baby doll, followed by a drawing of girls as superheroes. Each girl has personal flair, interests, and style. There is no limit to what she can do.

The author explains the disapproval of others by discussing labeling and that “you” (the listener) are “who you were created to be.”  The girls are not told to act like ladies.

When Girls Can is read aloud to boys, they are given the opportunity to view gender bias through the eyes of girls. The reader is given many opportunities to open a discussion with the listener to confirm, justify and support each illustrated character. Professions, vocational trades, and other jobs are represented with girls dressed in recognizable uniforms of police officers, athletes, pilots, welders, rap stars, and politicians.

In the author’s struggle against stereotypes, she uses some vocabulary that will lead to discussions between reader and listener: prejudiced, stereotypes, mindset, confident, and unapologetic.

This enjoyable and educational book shows that a girl doesn’t have to be categorized as “a pink or a blue” or choose between feminine or masculine roles in childhood or as an adult, because “You are a uniquely and beautifully you.”