Abzuglutely!: Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug
by Sarah Aronson; illus. by Andrea D’Aquino
Primary    Calkins/Astra    40 pp.
10/24    9781635928075    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781635928082    $11.99

This picture-book biography follows Bella Abzug (1920–1998), “the first woman elected to Congress on a women’s rights platform,” from her childhood defying gender roles at home, in the streets, and in her synagogue; through her career in law, activism, and politics. Aronson describes her personality, her accomplishments, and her brazenness. The layout of D’Aquino’s child-friendly illustrations and occasional handwritten phrases brings the words to life and makes Abzug’s impact tangible. The text is woven effectively into the illustrations, and the signature wide-brimmed red hats worn by “Battling Bella” make her figure jump out on every page. Issues such as sexism, war, prejudice, gay rights, and disability rights are discussed directly. Abzug’s political losses are highlighted without showing those losses to be failures. The book ends with an inspirational call to action for readers in the twenty-first century to help fulfill Abzug’s vision. An extensive author’s note and a timeline provide further historical context; also appended with a selected bibliography.

From the ">November/December 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.