I’m not sure how many kids asctually ask what is Labor Day? It’s become synonymous with the unofficial end of summer, a three-day weekend, barbecues, and yeah, some pretty great sales. So much so, we kind of blow past it without the tributes and memorializing we tend to see on other American holidays.
Books to the rescue!
In the past, we’ve shared 9 lovely children’s books about the immigrant experience and one of our favorites on that list is the biographical picture book Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 (Amazon, B&N, bookshop.org, Libro.FM) by Michelle Markel and Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet.
It’s a beautiful book incorporating bits of fabric and scraps into the illustrations, and tells an important historical story that just may have your kids expressing gratitude for those who fought to gave us more than a three-day weekend; they gave us safer factories, fairer pay, dignity for workers–and the fight continues with workers attempting to unionize at some of the bigger shops and companies we all frequent.
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This event has always extra special meaning to me since the matriarch of my own family, my Great Grandmother Tillie, was one of the original ILGWU members starting up the Philadelphia area chapter soon after the fire. Clara Lemlich, the heroine of the book, was an immigrant to the US from Ukraine, just like Tillie.
I also caught a review on Amazon from Clara’s own grandson thanking the authors, which is pretty cool.
Here’s where to find Clara and the Shirtwaist Factory with discounts:
Amazon: 50% off
B&N: 10% off for Premium Members plus 3x points
bookshop.org: 8% off with profits supporting small bookseller
Kindle: 47% off
Libro.FM: additional 30% off with code 30OFFAUDIOBOOK2024
Alternately, I found this wonderful Labor Day for Kids read-aloud video on YouTube from Ishan’s Story House, in which she reads the book to children. It’s is a nice short watch, and I hope you consider purchasing the book afterwards for your own library.
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Note: If you would like to purchase the book, we’ve linked to Amazon and Barnes & Noble. We also encourage you to support your local independent bookseller if you are able by purchasing in person or through bookshop.org. Or visit your community library. Our publishers also support the recently founded Amazon Labor Union, and their continued fight for dignity in pay and working conditions.
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