THE OFFICIAL WORD From National Geographic Kids:

The Book of Heroines and The Book of Heroes (ages 8-12, $14.99) – All kids are heroes in waiting and these two titles are sure to inspire.

In The Book of Heroines (By Stephanie Warren Drimmer) it’s all about Girl Power!  Looking for a leading lady? How about more than 100 of them?  True stories of superstars, war heroes, world leaders, ladies in lab coats ad everyday people who all have two things in common — they were girls and they changed the world.  From Michelle Obama, Jane Goodall and Wonder Woman to Susan B. Anthony, Gloria Steinem and Katie Ledecky, The Book of Heroines not only highlights how girls are just as tough as boys, but also challenges the reader to be a heroine herself and provides tips on how to unleash her inner heroine.

The Book of Heroes (by Crispin Boyer) highlights 100 guys who had the boldness, bravery and brains to meet the challenges of their day. Featuring a very diverse array of amazing minds, heroes from history, sports stars and even action heroes — like Abraham Lincoln, Mark Zuckerberg, Stephen Hawking and Steve Irwin  — boys will be sure to find more than just a few role models in the pages of this book and also perhaps inspire them that they, too, are capable of extraordinary things.

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GREG’S OFFICIAL WORD: This literary celebration of our heroes and heroines is an ingenious idea to bring the stories of the best minds in the world to our young people. These are the women, men, and children who inspire us to reach new heights.

For the gals, the chapter headings will have you already thinking of names you would expect to be included:

1. LEADING LADIES
2. GRITTY GIRLS
3. HEROINES ON THE JOB
4. LEGENDARY LADIES
5. DARING DAMES
6. PEACE HEROINES
7. LADIES IN LAB COATS

Familiar names from the past like Anne Frank, Marie Curie, and Eleanor Roosevelt are included along with present day heroines–Malala Yousafzai, Emma Watson, Lindsey Vonn, and many more. Their lives are inspiring and enjoyable to read.

My favorites though were the names I’d never heard of before, making them more of a quiet heroine. I was enlightened by the stories of Lt. Brenda Berkman, a heroine of 9/11; Dr. Megan Coffee and her work with in the aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake; and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, a Guatemalan activist.

For the guys, the chapter headings hold a similar slant:

1. LEADING MEN
2. LEGENDARY LADS
3. GAME CHANGERS
4. HEROES FOR HIRE
5. PEACE HEROES
6. ACTION HEROES
7. INSPIRING MINDS

Presidents, inventors, and heroes of the fictional kind had me at every word. The most memorable were the stories of Taylor Wilson (a 22-year-old nuclear physicist), Sitting Bull, King Arthur, and Desmond T. Doss.

Both books end with a chapter on our furry friends, devoted to the many animals who have done great things.

What a great gift this would make for any youngster in your life. The 175 pages in each hardback edition will become an instant favorite.

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Now for even better news… If you missed last Monday’s post, I’m celebrating the holidays with two gift giveaways. Comment on any or all of the four posts from December 5-11 and receive an entry each time. At 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, December 11th, I’ll draw two names.

One person will receive their own hardback editions of (click on any of the titles for my previous review):

The second name drawn will receive their own hardback editions of:

Keep these for yourself or use them as gifts for the special person in your life. Good luck to all who enter.