Meena Harris was born into a family of ambitious women whose legacy continues to inspire her. Her grandmother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a cancer researcher and civil rights activist; her mother, Maya Harris, is a lawyer and policy expert; and her aunt, Kamala Harris, is a Unites States senator from California.Meena herself is a lawyer and entrepreneur, as well as a New York Times-bestselling author. In 2017 she founded Phenomenal, a female-powered organization that brings awareness to social causes. She currently resides in San Francisco with her partner and two daughters.Marissa Valdez grew up on the South Texas border, dreaming that one day she'd be drawing for her job. Marissa graduated with a BFA in Animation from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and has worked as a preschool teacher, graphic designer and freelance illustrator since. Marissa hopes that her work encourages young girls to be ambitious and to dream big. She lives in Houston, Texas with her two ambitiously large cats. You can learn more about her at marissavaldez.com.
"A pep talk, a call to action, and a beautiful story. This book
reminds me of so many bedtime conversations my mother and I had
when I was growing up. Our girls are powerful and
limitless."--America Ferrera, Activist, actor, producer, and
director
"Harris and Valdez's appreciable celebration of female ambition
begins with a televised broadcast of a Black female speaker being
labeled 'too assertive, too persistent, too ambitious, too loud.'
In Valdez's bright, largely unlined art, a brown-skinned girl, who
walks up the street with three older Black women, is not
discouraged by what she sees.... Her mother explains that
historical figures, shown in a navy wash, 'have opened so many
doors, ' paving the way for this child's hopes and desires to
flourish."--Publishers Weekly
"This story will enable all girls, no matter their background,
culture, or ability, to see that they are able to make a difference
and to stand up for what they believe in."--School Library
Connection
"The soft watercolor illustrations amplify the book's underlying
messages of love and hope, filling the backgrounds with a
multiracial cast of women diverse in age, sexuality, ethnicity, and
ability. An inspiring, rhyming ode to female ambition."--Kirkus
Reviews
"Ambitious Girl is such an important children's book, because it
defines ambition in different terms than we're used to. We are so
often told ambition is a drive toward professional success, but
Ambitious Girl knows it's so much more -- it's a drive toward
owning your life and humanity. When we, especially girls, are
taught about ambition it often comes with an inherent competition,
that there's only one slot available. I love that this book breaks
that myth. I know Meena and her family live by these beliefs, and
I'm so grateful she has put it down in beautiful words to share
with the rest of us."--Kristen Bell, Actor, Producer, Activist, and
New York Times Bestselling Author
"Being ambitious means daring to be different and being willing to
break the mold. That can be scary, but with Ambitious Girl by her
side, young girls will know they can do anything."--Issa Rae,
Actor, producer, activist
"I know a thing or two about being called "ambitious" as an insult.
But ambitious girls fight for change. Ambitious girls lift up their
communities. Ambitious girls run for president. Ambitious girls can
do anything. This celebration of girls' ambition is timely,
inspiring, and much-needed." --Hillary Rodham Clinton
"I love that Ambitious Girl both shows and tells--it shows a girl
who looks like my own daughter and tells her, and her brother, that
women's ambition is powerful and something to be celebrated."
--Mindy Kaling, Actor, producer, activist, and New York Times
bestselling author
"In a complex world, Ambitious Girl is a powerful way to talk to
kids, especially Black and Brown children, about overcoming
stereotypes and owning your confidence. I am so happy to see us
represented on the page, and I can't wait to give this book to
every young person in my life--and a few older readers as
well!"--Diane Guerrero, Actor, Activist, and Author
"Meena writes an ambitious story for persistent girls who are
routinely told they don't matter. Kids deserve books where they can
see themselves, their potential for greatness, and the power of
dreaming big. Ambitious Girl is one of those treasures of a picture
book--it entertains, it educates, it's a must read."--Ibtihaj
Muhammad, U.S. Olympic Medalist and New York Times Bestselling
Author
"When I learned about the water crisis in my hometown of Flint, I
didn't have many young role models who looked like me. But I did
what any ambitious girl would do and took that first step. I love
that Ambitious Girl will encourage the next generation of young
female activists to speak up and not back down."--Mari Copeny,
13-year-old Activist and Philanthropist
"Ambitious Girl is not just beautiful for its text, it's also one
of the first times I've seen the ambition of girls of color
centered and celebrated. I look forward to making this book a
regular bedtime affirmation in our house."--Jessica Alba,
Entrepreneur, Advocate, Actress, New York Times bestselling author,
and Founder of The Honest Company
"A nourishing, necessary story for girls to harness their inner
heroines, make them come alive off the page, and thrive in real
life."--Amber Tamblyn, Author and Actress
"Have you ever sobbed into a children's book? I have and that book
is Ambitious Girl. It was the empowerment and good cry of relief I
deserve. I'll be requiring every girl and woman in my life to read
it, and I'd love for every boy, man, and being in this world to
read it with us too."--Liza Koshy, Actress, Creator, Producer
"The quick moral? Don't let the world judge you--'You tell them who
you are.' The story is inclusive of all girls and some nonbinary
folk in uplifting illustrations that shout the lessons, that 'too'
is darkly overwhelming, but women before her have opened doors.
Here, also, is the quote children everywhere have been learning in
this political season--'You may be the first someday, but don't be
the last--make space for more!'"--School Library Journal
"This wonderful book tells young girls what we have ALL needed to
hear but haven't heard nearly enough: Ambition is good, and girls
who are ambitious achieve great things and help others. This
delightful book is a must read for every little girl."--Padma
Lakshmi, Author, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and ACLU Artist
Ambassador for Immigrant and Women's Rights project
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