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Girls Can Be Anything
By using living examples, Marina convinces her kindergarten friend Adam that girls can be doctors, pilots, and presidents, too.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 20, 1973
About the author
Norma Klein
70 books112 followersNorma Klein was born in New York City and graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in Russian. She later received her master's degree in Slavic languages from Columbia University.
Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.
Ms. Klein died in 1989.
Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.
Ms. Klein died in 1989.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 30, 2011
This is the book that made me a feminist.
I read it when I was really young. I remember borrowing it from the Lafayette (Louisiana) public library. I remember reading it and just being enthralled, fascinated that contrary to what the (1970s)world around me said, I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up.
I've thought of this book so many times over the years, but couldn't remember the exact title and certainly not the author. I just saw the cover (while searching through the list of books written by Norma Klein) and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This is the book!
I read it when I was really young. I remember borrowing it from the Lafayette (Louisiana) public library. I remember reading it and just being enthralled, fascinated that contrary to what the (1970s)world around me said, I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up.
I've thought of this book so many times over the years, but couldn't remember the exact title and certainly not the author. I just saw the cover (while searching through the list of books written by Norma Klein) and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This is the book!
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January 15, 2016In this book Adam tells Marina she can't be things like a pilot, a doctor or a president because those are boy jobs. Marina proceeds to tell her parents that Adam is mean and they tell her that she can be anything she wants to be. Marina tells Adam what her parents said and they both decide what they want to be when the grow up.
I like this book because it empowers women at a young age and it describes that any job can be both for women and men.
I can use this book during career week to show how every job can be for both men and women even if most of the people in that career are men.
I like this book because it empowers women at a young age and it describes that any job can be both for women and men.
I can use this book during career week to show how every job can be for both men and women even if most of the people in that career are men.
March 11, 2011
A young boy and girl discover the open-ended possibilities for girls through imaginative play and stories of real-life accomplishment. Girls can grow up to be not only nurses, airline stewardesses, and First Ladies, but also doctors, pilots, and even the President of the USA. Another excellent kids' book which is sadly out of print.
April 8, 2011
This book is very old. However, the content is great. I would use this book to incorporate gender and teach about how women can be anything they please. The illustrations are dull and outdated, but as mentioned, the content is great.
September 25, 2015
I read this to my 4 year old daughter all the time. She loves it and we remind her that girls CAN do anything!
January 13, 2023
"That night after supper Marina said to her mother and father, 'I don't know what we're going to do with Adam Sobel. He says such silly things.'
'What did he say today that was so silly?' her father said.
'He said there never was a woman president,' Marina said.
There was a pause.
'Isn't he a silly boy!' Marina said. 'I call him a dum-dum.'
'Well, it's true, there's never been a woman President of the United States,' Mother said.
'Have there been women presidents of other places?' said Marina.
'Other countries have had important women leaders,' Father said. 'Mrs. Gandhi in India. Mrs. Meir in Israel.'
The next morning Marina said to Adam, 'Adam, you know, you can be a pilot or a doctor. You know what I'm going to be?'
'What?' Adam said.
'I'm going to be the first woman President! . . . You can be my husband.'"
Sounds like explaining patriarchy to your kid, in relation to the presidency, was pretty awkward in 1973. Good thing we've made such progress since then
'What did he say today that was so silly?' her father said.
'He said there never was a woman president,' Marina said.
There was a pause.
'Isn't he a silly boy!' Marina said. 'I call him a dum-dum.'
'Well, it's true, there's never been a woman President of the United States,' Mother said.
'Have there been women presidents of other places?' said Marina.
'Other countries have had important women leaders,' Father said. 'Mrs. Gandhi in India. Mrs. Meir in Israel.'
The next morning Marina said to Adam, 'Adam, you know, you can be a pilot or a doctor. You know what I'm going to be?'
'What?' Adam said.
'I'm going to be the first woman President! . . . You can be my husband.'"
Sounds like explaining patriarchy to your kid, in relation to the presidency, was pretty awkward in 1973. Good thing we've made such progress since then
April 23, 2012
I love this book, because the little girl in it is so funny. She and her firmed, who happens to be a guy, argue over the roles they will play when they are pretend playing and she always seems to win. This book is great for discussing gender biases and roles.
April 23, 2012
Awesome book to teach students that they can be anything that they set their mind to. I would use this to build self esteem circumstances where boys and girls say the other cant do something because of their gender. This can be used from Pre-K to 5th.
April 6, 2017
This book made me cry.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews