ABC… Yes, You Can!

ABC…Yes, You Can!
by Florence Mudzongo, illustrated by Josiah Taundi
Published by Your Nickel Worth’s Publishing
Review by Michelle Shaw
$19.95 ISBN 9781778690372

While it is addressed to Black girls, ABC…Yes, You Can! is a gorgeous book that feels like a gift to little girls everywhere. In simple ABC format, it highlights a huge variety of careers and encourages little girls to dream big dreams.

The careers cover a huge range, from aeronautical engineer, to DJ and speech pathologist to truck driver. Best of all, it spotlights specific women in each particular field – all of whom are of African descent.

Even though I was born and brought up in South Africa, there are so many names that I didn’t recognise, names such as world-class aeronautical engineer, Winifred Byanyima from Uganda and Clémentine Zeregbe Goli, the only female heavy-duty truck driver from the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

The book also includes women such as Sahle-Work Zewede, president of Ethiopia, legendary South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka and biologist Dr. Wangari Maathai from Kenya who was the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. There are also women from America and Canada such as web developer Sofia Ongele, who created her first award-winning app at the age of 17 and legislator, Marci Ien, Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.

There are so many fascinating things for readers to research such as the Juliet all-women firefighting crew from South Africa. This team is made up of women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and over 90 percent of the crew members come from female-headed households.

This is such a wonderful book. It’s inspiring and introduces readers to a wide variety of courageous women who have made such a difference in the world. I think it will have a big impact on little girls and encourage them to dream big dreams.

Florence K. Mudzongo is a Zimbabwean-Canadian author and former lawyer turned registered social worker, based in Saskatchewan. Beyond her literary pursuits, Florence is a devoted community leader, notably as a founding member of the Girl Child Network Zimbabwe and the driving force behind the Saskatchewan Association of Black Social Workers. Her commitment to positive change, empowerment and celebrating Black excellence is inspired by her late mom, Jane Hazvineyi Chipanyama who was a philanthropist and entrepreneur.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM