Go Girls Go!
S&S Beach Lane Books | Written by Frances Gilbert | Hardcover Format | Fall 2019
Come along for a rollicking ride in this picture book celebration of vehicles that puts girls in the driver’s seat! Girls can race…and girls can fly. Girls can rocket way up high! Piloting fire trucks, trains, tractors, and more, the girls in this book are on the go! Join them for an exuberant journey that celebrates how girls can do—and drive—anything.
This energetic, action-packed book features a three-part refrain and introduces three characters at a time. In the first part, I highlighted each girl and her vehicle, showcasing their teamwork. Using dynamic layouts, the book reads like a graphic novel but without traditional scene frames. Monochromatic background colors make each character stand out while remaining part of a cohesive scene.
Sound effects accompanied the introduction of each set of girls and their vehicles. I created playful, interactive text that became part of the scene. These spreads also feature close-ups of each woman, providing a contrast to the previous scene, where the focus on their vehicles made them appear smaller.
After introducing each set of girls and their sound effects, the spreads featured the refrain “Go, Girls, Go!” Here, I brought the women together, showing them collaborating on various tasks. This added a layer of narrative beyond the manuscript, highlighting teamwork and cooperation among these diverse characters.
“The illustrations feature bright primary colors, block shapes, patterns, stars, and large, clear fonts that will appeal to young audiences. A hit for girls who identify strongly with girlhood and love things that go.” (Kirkus August 2019)
“Girls drive, push, and propel through the book, with a dynamic layout dividing the pages into horizontal streaks of movement, followed by pages giving shout-outs in huge, bright letters to the noise each girl makes…and culminating with a chorus of “GO, GIRLS, GO!” Active verbs abound, the rhyming text is propulsive, and Black’s illustrations are blasting with color and movement….” (Booklist October 2019)
Amazon Pick of the Month: Ages 3-5, November 2019
Choose to Read Ohio Floyd's Pick honor title 2020
Included in the American Library Association's Rise: A Feminist Book Project List