Ruth Bader Ginsburg Couldn't Drive?

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Pub Date 1 Nov 2022 | Archive Date 31 Oct 2022
W. W. Norton & Company | Norton Young Readers

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Description

From the best-selling author of My Weird School: a new entry in the cheerful and engaging biography series centered on high-interest historic figures.

Did you know that Ruth Bader Ginsburg failed her driving test five times? Or that her real name was Joan? Bet you didn’t know that she liked paddle boarding, white water rafting, and riding elephants! She even had a praying mantis named after her. Siblings Paige and Turner have collected some of the most unusual and surprising facts about one of the most famous Supreme Court Justices in history, from her childhood to her rise as the superstar Notorious R.B.G.

Narrated by the two spirited siblings and animated by Allison Steinfeld’s upbeat illustrations, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Couldn’t Drive? is an authoritative, accessible, and one-of-a-kind biography infused with Dan Gutman’s signature zany sense of humor.

About the Author: Dan Gutman is the New York Times best-selling author of the Genius Files series, the My Weird School series, and his baseball card adventure series. Dan has received nineteen state book awards.

From the best-selling author of My Weird School: a new entry in the cheerful and engaging biography series centered on high-interest historic figures.

Did you know that Ruth Bader Ginsburg failed...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781324030690
PRICE US$16.95 (USD)

Average rating from 28 members


Featured Reviews

A cute informal biographer of the notorious RBG! The format of this is in the style of two siblings talking to each other about RBG's life. I thought it was really cute and really informative! I think this would be a great way to teach kids about such an important figure.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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What a fun book! Fun and informative. You get so caught up in the very realistic banter between siblings Turner and Paige (get it?) that you don't even realize how much you're learning, learning about not just Ginsburg but history and equal rights in the process. The fact the banter occasionally makes a brief detour, ie Turner and his thing for prunes, makes it all the more fun as Paige's response is very sister-like. There's even a section called "Mushy Stuff", which reminds us all the more of the probably target audience's age.

I liked the format. It made for a quick read and didn't dwell on any one specific fact for long, making things seem to move along all the more faster. True, as an adult reader I found myself wanting to know more at times but, hey, this wasn't written for me. That I thoroughly enjoyed it, however, speaks volumes for the humor and skill with it shown by author Dan Gutman. The artwork is simple but effective and even though there were reminders in the digital copy I read that the artwork wasn't final, it worked. The siblings' tone, I might note, even while lighthearted and occasionally playful, was respectful, even while revealing, say, RBG's lack of driving and cooking skills. Good thing her husband learned to cook, and cook well, huh? He was also the designated driver, so to speak.

Bottom line, this one is a winner and should appeal to both adults and the target audience of children. There is much to be learned, not just about Ginsburg but the times she lived and influenced. You know, considering the fact no law firm would even offer her a job after she graduated law school, Harvard, at that, she did okay, I'd say. No, better than okay. She became THE Notorious RBG.

Thanks #NetGalley and #WWNorton&Company - #NortonYoungReaders for the chance to get to know this remarkable woman better.

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This is the perfect book for elementary age students. Lots of pictures and Q & A writing. Interesting facts that will keep the reader entertained. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.

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I loved this book so much! It's written as a dialogue between two kids talking about what they learned about RBG. The format took me a few pages to get used to, but it grew on me! A fun and engaging biography about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kids will love learning tons of fun facts and important information about Ruth. I learned a lot too! I will definitely be adding this book, as well as the entire series, to my third grade library!

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Written more like a readers theatre or script, this text is formatted differently than the average fiction or non-fiction, which will set it apart from other books on the shelves. This book is divided into chapters and involves a conversation between two children discussing interesting facts about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. There are also random sections like “Things women couldn’t do in the 1930s and 1940s” or “Stuff you don’t know about the supreme court”. There are small black and white illustrations, and comic-like scenes spread throughout, as well as very well-spaced text and a good about of white space on a page, making it less intimidating. With the choice to make this book more script like, there are less long paragraphs, with excess or difficult vocabulary. The interesting facts are more accessible to readers who are not overwhelmed by large paragraphs. As a grade 3 teacher, I would recommend this book to parents of children in the age 7-11 range. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

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Facts, trivia, and fun are what makes this minibiography of the famous member of the Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS) different. Presented as an interaction between siblings, it makes learning fun and easy.
The illustrations by Allison Steinfeld are delightful, imaginative line drawings.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age, great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from W. W. Norton & Company/Norton Young Readers via NetGalley. Thank you!

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Dan Gutman once again has written an amazing book that kids will love! It is the perfect amount of fun facts and real history all in one. The illustrations are stellar, and some make you laugh out loud. Dan Gutman really has a talent for writing books for reluctant readers. I learned some new facts about Ruth Bader Ginsburg myself. I can’t wait to introduce this book to some reluctant readers I know. I think it will be perfect for them. 5/5 stars!

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Many times biographies can be a bit dry for our elementary aged kids. Thank goodness for authors who tackle this genre in engaging ways, making the subject come to life and discuss those little details that kids would appreciate! And once engaged, then the recommendations at the end can encourage them to read more. And RBG was certainly a worthy choice for our young readers to learn about. Eager to read more in this story as well as share with my colleagues!

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I first heard of RBG through the film “On the basis of sex” so I already knew quite a lot about her but I thoroughly enjoyed this concise, children’s biography about her life and work. Written as a conversation between two characters, they were able to offer humorous asides and mini anecdotes before being brought back to the point by the other character. A great book to introduce children to this inspirational woman.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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As soon as I saw the author's name, I knew this was the beginning of a reading adventure.
The selection of Ginsburg and her life story is one that appeals to everyone. It is especially engaging to learn about history and the lives of influential personalities in different formats. Through Paige and Turner, a charismatic brother and sister team, she comes alive. Her monumental achievements are wittily conveyed with personal trivia. that will keep all readers captivated.
The factual presentation is amusing and readers will certainly absorb the essence of who RBG was. It's an especially engaging way to teach students about biographies.

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