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’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ Book Review

'50 Trailblazers of the 50 States' Book Review

As a homeschooling mom, I keep loads of books around the house. I am always looking for new books to add to our home library. I received a copy of 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States: Celebrate the Lives of Inspiring People Who Paved the Way from Every State in America! written by Howard Megdal, illustrated by Abbey Lossing, and published by Wide Eyed Editions in exchange for my honest opinion.

Front Cover of '50 Trailblazers of the 50 States'

Author/Illustrator

Author Howard Megdal is a journalist and editor who has worked to equalize the coverage of men’s and women’s sports during his career. He has worked as a sports columnist for POLITICO New York, Editorial Director for Excelle Sports and Editor-in-Chief for High Post Hoops and has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and Forbes. His curiosity leads him to seek the deeper story and shine a light on what has been missed elsewhere.

Based in Brooklyn, New York after having grown up in Granville, Ohio, illustrator and animator Abbey Lossing earned a degree in Illustration from Syracuse University. She previously worked as a staff illustrator at BuzzFeed and Vice News Before diving full-time into freelance work in 2017. She has worked with Facebook, Google, Target, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Her work begins with an initial sketch, moves into Photoshop, and ends with a Cintiq (tablet/screen hybrid) to maintain the presence of her hand in her digital work. She is inspired by fashion and textiles, and she loves to integrate patterns into her work.

Synopsis

Recommended for children between the ages of 12 and 16 in seventh grade through eleventh grade, 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States: Celebrate the Lives of Inspiring People Who Paved the Way from Every State in America! offers a collection of biographies that focuses on one trailblazer from each state of the United States. Each spread features a timeline, key facts, and the ways in which the trailblazer continues to influence today. The 112-page full-color hardback book currently retails for $17.79 on Amazon with a list price of $24.99.

Back Cover of '50 Trailblazers of the 50 States'

Evaluation

When I first opened 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States, my initial reaction was that I loved all the bright colors in the illustrations throughout the pages. Colorful books appeal to readers both young and old alike. Biographical information can sometimes be a bit dry, so the bright illustrations help bring the information to life. My kindergartener and toddler are currently 5 and 2, and both enjoy flipping through the pages with me and talking about the words and pictures on each page. My oldest daughter, who is 8 and finishing up fourth grade, will sit down and read about a couple influential people at a time.

Inside Pages of '50 Trailblazers of the 50 States' 1

The illustrations make the pages pop, but the textual information in the book provides a lot of great facts about trailblazing Americans. Each two-page spread includes basic information about the individual and additional information about the ways in which the trailblazer influenced the country and world. The book also includes quotes from each individual, which I found especially fascinating.

Inside Pages of '50 Trailblazers of the 50 States' 2

Final Verdict

If you are searching for a collection of short biographies on influential Americans, I definitely recommend checking out 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States: Celebrate the Lives of Inspiring People Who Paved the Way from Every State in America! written by Howard Megdal with illustrations from Abbey Lossing. The book celebrates Americans who have fought for equal rights, women’s suffrage, environmental protection, and other progressive issues. I highly recommend 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States to every American reader and anyone interested in influential Americans throughout history.

Inside Pages of '50 Trailblazers of the 50 States' 3

Purchase 50 Trailblazers of the 50 States on Amazon via my affiliate link.

Image Credits

’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ Book Review © 2020 Heather Johnson
Front Cover of ’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ © 2020 Heather Johnson
Back Cover of ’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ © 2020 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ 1 © 2020 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ 2 © 2020 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ’50 Trailblazers of the 50 States’ 3 © 2020 Heather Johnson

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