Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Charles Vess
I love a kids book that shows little girls who are brave and adventurous and independent. I love it even more when it isn't about marriage or princes or any of the other hetero-normative storylines that are often still the underscore of such books.
In Blueberry Girl, Gaiman writes a beautiful incantation for an unborn child, wishing her strength and wisdom and freedom. He is also wishing her freedom from the trappings of the stories girls have been told for generations...
"Keep her from spindles, and sleeps at sixteen. Let her stay waking and wise."
The wishes are presented as a sort of prayer to feminine ancestors, or perhaps pagan goddesses watching over the child.
I think that is is an empowering book for kids and adults alike. It's bright, charming illustrations, and lilting text are compelling to kids and even some references that may be lost on little ones will speak more to the adult reader.
