Keep Climbing, Girls

by Beah E. Richards, R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator), LisaGay Hamilton (Introduction)

The only way to make a bid
for a girl's equality is to climb right up to the
toppermost bough
of the very tallest tree.

The dynamic ode to girl power was written by noted Afro-American actor, poet, and playwright Beah E. Richards. First published in 1951, her poem is given new life in this edition that includes an introduction by LisaGay Hamilton and stunning illustrations by R. Gregory Christie. With its inspirational messsage, this book will empower children with the realization that "the path of life goes up and up/not down!"

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Gender, Nonfiction, Inspirational, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine of Beah E. Richards' poem climbs a tree in this picture-book, ignoring the commands, advice and threats of the more traditional Miss Nettie, who doesn't think such activities are appropriate for little girls. The narrator offers encouragement, relating how Miss Nettie hasn't reckoned on the ambition and wisdom of little girls, concluding with the advice to keep on climbing...

Originally published in 1951, in Richards' sole poetry collection, A Black Woman Speaks , this rebellious and aspirational piece is presented in picture-book form by illustrator R. Gregory Christie, and introduced by actress LisaGay Hamilton. Richards, who was a celebrated actress, as well as an author and activist, was an inspiration and mentor to Hamilton, who worked on a television documentary about her hero's life. Although I appreciate the sentiments expressed in Keep Climbing, Girls, I have to say that the poem itself didn't particularly impress me, and I frequently found its rhythm somewhat awkward, when attempting to read it aloud (something I always do with picture-book poems). Of course, personal reaction to poetry is intensely idiosyncratic, so I imagine others will have a different experience. The artwork, created in gouache, is engaging, utilizing bold shapes and intense colors.

[Mississippi Library Commission · Rating 4 out of 5]

This inspirational poem by Mississippian Beah E. Richards is made even better by R. Gregory Christie's bright and energetic illustrations. #girlpower

[Zandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The moral is: Keep climbing, girls, and let no one prevent you!"

I read this book years ago when it was first published and feel in love with it. In my opinion, this is a "good book you may have missed" and I want to shine some light on it in hopes that more folks will discover it. It is written by the late Beah Richards, an accomplished African-American actress. You may recognize her from movies such as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and "In the Heat of the Night." (I was Particularly moved by her performance in "Beloved".)

Keep Climbing Girls inspires girls fight against the box society tries to put them in. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. It doesn't matter if you're a girl. Girls are strong and ambitious and capable of doing anything! This is a great girl-power book!

[Brittany Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Climbing, Girls is a endearing poem that is all about Girl Power! Against her mothers wishes, the main character climbs a tree and quite literally reaches new heights. She never lets being a girl stop her from accomplishing the things she sets out to do!

While a little complicated in language, this book is appropriate for elementary aged children. It is interesting to children, and offers an important message of empowerment. The illustrations help to facilitate an understanding, and definitely add to the story. While the race of the characters is not outright discussed in the book, the characters are all depicted as brown females, which may represent the author, Beah E. Richards, and are not stereotyped in any way.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is fairly simple: a girl wants to climb a tree, she sees it as power, as empowerment, and so ignores the chastising of her mother, and thus reaches new heights.

I like the message for girls, although I thought it was curious she had to disobey her mother to realize her dreams, and was subsequently punished. The rhyming is very unusual, and sometimes hard to read, but the author went out of their way to make some interesting rhymes. And the pictures are simple yet compelling, and convey the sense of space the girl achieves.

The introduction is by Lisa Gay Hamilton which was a nice touch.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I wasn't wild about Richards's somewhat awkward rhyming, the overall message is a very powerful one. It's pretty amazing that this ode to girl power was written in 1951 in Vicksburg! R. Gregory Christie's illustrations were, as always, a joy and beautifully done.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Climbing Girls is a book where the wording choice is a great learning oppuirnty for the children, it not only has complex words that the children have not portably been used but also rhyming within the text. This book is also an amazing mirror book because the book is about a girl climbing a tree and her teaching is not enforcing the behavior (not because it may be dangerous) but instead because it is an activity that boys do and not girls. This book I feel does an amazing job facing the issue the book presents, it doesn't go in too deep. Children wouldn't understand but also puts enough out there that the children Start to wonder. This book could also be conventional because of the message that it is sending but I would still put it in my classroom because it is the message that is going to come out later, like it or not! (Ps. I would give this book 6 stars if I could)

[reallyranaonline ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keep Climbing, Girls is a poem originally written by Beah E. Richards by illustrated and by R. Gregory Christie. The poem encourages young girls to climb to great heights in order to obtain what they want from the world. Letting them know that they might struggle along the way because of boundaries set by other people, and the fact that men try to hold them back, but as long as they keep climbing they'll reach high heights. Christie did an excellent job illustrating Richards' words, and though the moral behind the poem is great I am not the biggest fan of the writing. It is a good thing to have in a classroom library though, to remind female students that the sky isn't the limit and they can always reach high heights in life.

[Emily Sammartino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl wants to climb a tree, and despite the challenges and discouraging words from Miss Nettie, she will stop at nothing until she does. This poetry book is an ode to girl power and never give up regardless of what you are told. While the story may seem simple, a girl climbing a tree, it symbolizes so much more. It represents any obstacle girls may face where they are told they can’t or won’t do something because of their gender. One line that stuck with me, “the path of life goes up up/ not down!” is another simple statement that can symbolize and be applied to so many other big things in life. This was a very simple but empowering book that I think all little girls can relate to.

[Salamah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short but powerful book. First I loved it because it captured Black culture authentically. I felt like I was transported back in time when little girls were told how to be proper little girls instead of being empowered to discover their own strengths. Society in general, told girls how to behave and deviating from this a little caused great concern among the adults. Hopefully, today things are different as social media allows for young girls to see a broader range of what a girl can do, even though some will argue that there is a lot of negativity that young girls can experience through social media. This book definitely encourages girls to keep climbing!

[Klare Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Climbing, Girls by Beah E. Richards is an empowering picture‑book poem that encourages girls to aim high and believe in themselves. I’d use this book early in the school year to build a growth‑mindset and confidence atmosphere. After reading it aloud, I might invite each student to draw or write what “their tallest tree” would look like, for example what goals they have, how high they want to climb, what it means to them. This is a great inclusive books for young girls to read to strive to do whatever they want to do.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness the voice! The voice so strong and so powerful and so authentic That reading this book is the celebration of black culture in and of itself. The story is also a powerful struggle between a girl and everything that wants to keep her down. And the illustrations, wonderfully and very easily convey so much emotion I literally laughed at Miss Nettie’s expressions because I’ve seen them before and I know exactly what they mean!! Such a lovely wonderful book!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve used this book to teach literacy skills to small groups of elementary students in Las Vegas. The message behind the story is powerful and sparked fire and imagination in many students who read it!

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really inspiring and empowering for young women! Keep climbing, Girls reminds us of the power we have as females and to embrace that and make it a world in which we are equal to men.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great girl empowerment book to not give up or be dictated by others.

[Mrs. Ruigrok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice message with colorful illustrations but I didn't find that the rhyming pattern made as great as it could have been.

[Jeanette Yanez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised how hard it was to read this book outloud. As most of the poetry the last words rhyme and for some reason that made it more difficult for me to understand the book. I did however enjoy that the underlying message or morals revolved around young girls being able to overcome any fears or obstacles. I enjoyed how the characters throughout all the story were of colored minority which made me appreciate the message that much more. It was an interesting way of allowing you girls, as the audience, to see how genreational pressure can cause harm but how a young girl has the ability to overcome any problems. Even though I enjoyed the message I was not a big fan of the writing style because it was hard to read nor was I a fan of the fact that the obstacle that the young girl had to overcome was climbing a tree. Poetry I apparently harder to understand and read then I expected in children's poetry.

[Janet Squires · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poem, which first appeared in "A Black woman Speaks: And Other Poems" by the late actor and poet Beah Richards is reintroduced to young readers in this picture book format by illustrator R. Gregory Christie.

"Keep Climbing, Girls" speaks to female equality as portrayed by a young African American girl who is determined to climb to the highest branches of a tree on her own terms despite the admonitions of her observers. Vernacular speech creates a distinctive voice for Miss Nettie as she attempts to convince the young girl to be careful for fear she'll become a tomboy with tomboy scars. Certainly there is a risk, but the young heroine's confidence and determination is stronger than her fear of danger.

[Alenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a girl, I was always climbing a tree or searching for another great climbing tree so the message of this book rings clear and true with me. I just happened to read this book to my 4-year-old daughter on the same day that she first climbed high in a tree. I hope that she won't ever let anyone tell her she can't do something just because she's a girl. Keep Climbing, Girls is an inspirational message for any female who has ever done something just as good or better than a male!

[Ryan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, empowering book advising girls not to limit themselves to what other people think is appropriate for girls. The main character climbs that tree despite what the matriarch says. It's interesting that the character holding the small girl back is an older woman who spouts the patriarchal line--co-opted by male-dominated society? In any case, I love the message.

[Olivia Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rhyming book is about a little girl with a brave ambition that is determined to accomplish what she sets her mind to, regardless of living in a boys world. A captivating read with some advanced wording, although I worry that a child would interpret this books' main point as disobeying their elders even though I, an adult, can understand and appreciate the moral of this story.

[Amanda Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl likes climbing trees (just like my sister) but other people don't think she should be she is a girl. The book encourages girls to be adventurous and do things even if people tell you that you shouldn't because you are a girl.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl climbs higher and higher in a tree as her mother pleads for her to come down. Written in verse it is an ode to never being held down in life. The vocabulary will need some defining for younger students.

[Amy Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the message sent in this book. Very encouraging for little girls to read!

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach girls how to be adventurous. Also, to stand up for themselves because they have a voice in this world!:-)

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little story to encourage your daughter. I would have liked it in a compilation with more stories. RIP Beah Richards.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the idea - not much of a story then again it fits with the length. And the emotions are real.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 1/2 - ok book harder to read than it should be... Difficulty with the flow and rhyme?

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations and loved the message.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to empower girls to keep working hard to achieve their dreams and not let anyone box them into a corner.