If you’re looking for a biography collection for Women’s History Month, I would highly recommend We Are Explorers by Keri Herbert.
Though women have been exploring the world for thousands of years, their stories have often gone untold. This biography collection gives a voice to fourteen of these remarkable women; women such as Sacagawea, Josephine Peary, and Junko Tabei.
From plant hunters to investigative journalists, these women traveled through deserts, jungles, and even space. Each biography opens with a great descriptive introduction, putting you in the shoes of the explorer. I appreciate the way the biographies read almost like a narrative, keeping the reader engaged in each explorer’s account.
I loved the diverse collection of women covered. I have read a few similar biographies and found them to be VERY white centered. I was also glad to see the prejudices held by European and colonial travelers directly addressed in some of these biographies. These direct conversations are so necessary when discussing historic figures and are too frequently overlooked.
Each profile is paired with a portrait by Kari Herbert, as well as photographs and paintings from their time period, giving the reader a look into each woman’s life.
The back matter contains a map, highlighting all the different explorations, as well as a glossary for some of the scientific terms found throughout the text.
Sure to inspire the next generation of explorers, We Are Explorers is available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and continue bringing content to you. Your support is always appreciated!)
Kari Herbert is an author, illustrator, speaker, and daughter of polar explorer Sir Wally Herbert. Kari is the author of six books about exploration and women’s history. To learn more about her and her work, please visit her website at kariherbert.com.
I would like to thank Thames and Hudson for providing me with a review copy of We Are Explorers. I am so grateful to be able to share the stories of these inspiring explorers.
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