"What if the princess did not marry Prince Charming but instead went on to be an astronaut or an activist? What if the jealous step sisters were supportive and kind? And what if the queen was the one really in charge of the kingdom?
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces us to one hundred remarkable women and their extraordinary lives. From Marie Curie to Malala, Ada Lovelace to Zaha Hadid, this book brings together the stories of scientists, artists, politicians, pirates and spies. Each double-page spread contains a mini-biography written in the style of a modern fairy tale and a full-page portrait capturing the spirit of each heroine, by one of the sixty female artists from across the globe who were commissioned to illustrate the book.
Powerful, moving and very necessary, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girl will inspire and delight readers of all ages."
About the Author
Elena Favilli is a media entrepreneur and a journalist. She has worked for Colors magazine, McSweeney's, RAI, Il Post, and La Repubblica, and has managed digital newsrooms on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2011, she created the first iPad magazine for children, Timbuktu magazine. She is the founder and CEO of Timbuktu Labs.
Francesca Cavallo is a writer and theatre director. Her award-winning plays have been staged all across Europe. A passionate social innovator, Francesca is the founder of Sferracavalli, an International Festival of Sustainable Imagination in Southern Italy. In 2011, Francesca joined forces with Elena Favilli to found Timbuktu Labs, where she serves as Creative Director.
Industry Reviews
A revolution at bedtime... Esther Walker thought she had parenting down until she read the hit book to her daughter. It has changed their lives * Sunday Times Magazine *
The publishing sensation of the year * Evening Standard, Books of the Year *
The definitive book of the year in our house, for both parents and offspring. It offers celebratory, non-judgmental paeans to the varied lives of influential women. Anyone needing an antidote for certain oversexualised, underoccupied screen heroines need look no further -- Maggie O'Farrell * Guardian Books of the Year *
A welcome reminder to girls that nothing stands in their way - except a lack of self-belief. This book started as a crowd-funded project and has become a best-seller which is the best news of the year -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail Books of the Year *
This amazing book shows young girls they can be anything they want -- Melinda Gates
Trust me, your life needs Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls... Absolutely beautiful - get one for yourself and one to inspire a woman in your life -- Sarah Shaffi * Stylist *
Featuring spies, pirates, astronauts, activists, scientists, writers, sports stars and more, many of the stories are so thrilling and uplifting your child's heart may beat a little faster, her mind racing with possibilities. If she leaps out of bed to get to work, blame the authors -- Emine Saner * Guardian *
Modern and fundamentally feminist, this riot grrrl reinvention of the fairytale is so inspiring adults are also reading it in droves -- Heather Saul * i newspaper *
Elegant, colourful... and captivatingly told... In an ideal world, not only would mothers read this aloud to daughters, but teachers would read it to schoolboys -- Nicolette Jones * Sunday Times *
A book to keep, treasure and read again, and the end pages are a call to arms: space for readers to write their own story and drawn their own portrait. Essential reading for girls and indeed boys; children who read this at bedtime are guaranteed some big and inspirational dreams -- Fiona Noble * Observer *
In a sign of the times - that rebellion is good - there's a book dominating the Christmas bestsellers list this year. It is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo... what the title says to girls is that history has placed laurels on the heads of men, that children's books have left them out, and that this is their time for revolution * Evening Standard *
Forget passive simpering princesses and damsels in distress - the heroines of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls are famed for their real-life achievements * Red *
The all-female team behind a pioneering new book called Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls are confronting the tired, patriarchal narrative head-on. It sets out to challenge gender stereotypes and inspire young girls to aim high in their career goals * Daily Mail *
A must-have for the nightstand of every girl or young woman you know -- Geri Stengel * Forbes *
The feminist bedtime story book you'll wish you had growing up -- Harriet Hall * Stylist *
The exceptional women included here come from many times and places... Each is celebrated in a brief biography written in the style of a modern fairy tale - with the twist that she is often an unsung shaper of our society. Illustrations by female artists add to the joy of this ebullient, inspiring collection -- Julia Eccleshare * Guardian *
A worldwide hit -- Helena de Bertodano * The Times *
Really inspiring for all young girls, they should all read it -- Sarah * The Late Late Toy Show, RTE *
A cracking book... beautifully illustrated, a great source for young women to be inspired -- Ryan Tubridy * The Late Late Toy Show, RTE *
The feminist book every child needs in their bedroom... bedtime stories which tell of real women shattering the glass ceiling and challenging patriarchy should be read to all children - not just to little girls, but to little boys, too -- Ellie Wiseman * Grazia *
Go out now and add Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls to your bookshelf. Gripping and beautiful, Sofya has paused her Harry Potter obsession to tell me all about Aung San Suu Kyi and Anna Politkovskaya. Be still my feminist heart -- Rebecca Schiller * The Pool *
The key message is perseverance rather than success. Crucially, the book also gives exposure to female illustrators. Their diverse styles are universally attractive, with bright appealing colours and expressive faces. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls would be a valuable addition to the bookshelves of any child interested in history, regardless of their gender -- Sara Keating * Irish Times *
You have to buy it for the little ones in your lives, but you also need a copy for your grown-up bookshelf... There is serious girl power between the covers of this book * Bustle *
From politics to sport to technology to entertainment, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls wonderfully celebrates the power of a woman's touch. It is a book that makes you proud to be a woman and allows little girls to dream big! * Curious Mum *
Potted biographies of lots of great women - not just rebels (although many of them are), but scientists, writers, artists, politicians. A great ethnic and historical mix too, and lots of women who did great things as children and teenagers -- Sally Nicholls
An excellent book... it should be top of every girl's reading list - and boys too, so they can see the vital role played by women throughout history. This crowdfunded book has become a smash hit, and quite rightly so * Parents in Touch *
Our favourite bedtime read * Little London *
If you're looking for something to help your daughter (or son) dream big tonight, there's one book up for the task... Uncovering the art of asking a lot of questions, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is about the moments that make a life truly extraordinary - the trying, the failing, and most importantly, the trying again * Mama Mia, Australia *
It's a pretty safe bet to say that, if your child goes to school dressed as one of the Rebel Girl heroines for World Book Day, rather than as Hermoine Granger, Cinderella or Katniss Everdeen, say, she's absolutely on-trend for 2018 -- Joanna Moorhead * Daily Telegraph *
There's a book my younger daughter asks me to read to her every night. . . this book is different, because when I put it down and turn off her light, she sometimes says: "I want to be in it." It will come as no surprise that the book is Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo's Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, and has become a publishing sensation -- Paul Laity * Guardian *
