Book description from Goodreads: “Who are we? We are a billion voices, bright and brave; we are light, standing together in the fight.

Girls are strong and powerful alone, but even stronger when they work to uplift one another. In this galvanizing original poem by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, girls and girlhood are celebrated in their many forms, all beautiful, not for how they look but for how they look into the face of fear. Creating a rousing rallying cry with vivid illustrations by Loveis Wise, Gorman reminds us how girls have shaped our history while marching boldly into the future.”

Need some reviews of Girls on the Rise?

• The Children’s Book Review
• Kayce’s Book Blog
• Kirkus

Here’s an NPR interview with Gorman about this title.

Reading Activities inspired by Girls on the Rise:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • What do you notice about the art, colors, faces, clothing, background details?
  • What does the word “rise” make you picture, movement, emotion, or both?
  • Who do you think this book is speaking to, one person, or a whole group?
  • What questions would you like to ask the author or illustrator before reading the book?
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • What does “being brave” mean in this book, and what does it look like?
  • Where do you see teamwork or community in the words and pictures?
  • How do the illustrations add to the meaning of the poem?
  • What lines felt like a chant or a cheer you could say out loud?
  • What does the book suggest about fear, and what helps girls move through it?
  • Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
• Rise Chant Remix: Write three new lines that match the book’s voice. Start each with one of these stems.
  We are…
  We can…
  We will…
  Read your lines out loud like a chant. Try it whisper-​quiet, then proud-​and-​strong. Which version fits your message best?
• Courage Map: Draw a simple path across a page. Label the start Fear and the finish Rise. Along the path, add 5 stepping-​stones a girl might use to move forward, such as a friend, practice, asking for help, deep breath, telling the truth. Consider illustrating each stepping-​stone with a small symbol.
• Bravery Portrait Gallery: Create a portrait of a girl who is being brave in an everyday way, raising her hand, joining a game, learning something hard, standing up for someone. Add three labels around the portrait.
  Her strength
  Her voice
  Her support
• Make a Community “We” Mural: On one big sheet (or taped pages), draw a crowd of many different kids standing together. Each person gets one speech bubble with a short line, such as “I help,” “I try again,” “I tell the truth,” “I listen.” This turns the poem into a classroom or family chorus.
• History Ripple Cards: The book nods toward how girls shape the future. Make three cards.
  Card 1: A girl who changed something in your family or community
  Card 2: A girl who changed something in history
  Card 3: A girl who will change something tomorrow (imagined)
  On the back of each card, write one sentence about the change and one sentence about the courage it took.
• Books, Books, and More Books! Check out these picture books about confidence, courage, and girls using their voices: