Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

Some children’s books are just a simple (or parentally boring) story that comforts a child because of the predictability or the unchallenging story line. Other books have wide appeal because the moral they teach can be applied to many children. But then you get a special book that you know has the exact veiled encouragement you want one of your children to hear over and over again because of the personality they have. This is what I get from ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer’.

A while ago I was became aware of a study that was done into gender representation in children’s books, the findings were not surprising to someone familiar with the kids section of the library. Males are much more represented as leads in children’s literature, even when the character is a animal, it is much more likely to be male. Just think of your favourite children’s’ book, is the lead character male? 

As a mother of both boys and girls I am very aware of the need to present my children with characters that both challenge them and that they can relate to. So when I found Rosie Revere I knew I had found a lead female character that is just like one of my girls. Rosie has grand ideas and dreams. She wants to create, to make something new and useful out of the ordinary things around her. She wants to help people and make a difference. However, she is hindered by what some might call shyness, but on a deeper level is lack of self esteem. A concern that if something is not done well enough it isn’t worth doing, or it is a failure, and that by extension she is a failure.

Rosie has many around her that laugh at her – not to humiliate her, but that is how it makes her feel. So when she finds someone who will support, encourage and champion her, she gives herself permission to try again. Rosie is shown support from a loving family member who sees her potential. This leads Rosie to a realisation that we can all apply, but for one of my children I want her to hear it again and again and again.

“Life might have its failures, but this was not it,

The only true failure can come if you quit”

We love Rosie Revere! She is a memorable character. My kids recognise the book each time we spot it at the library, and that is awesome, it means we get to read it again.