Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children

Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children by Canadian author Monica Kulling and illustrated by Julianna Swaney is the story of a woman who persevered in spite of what would be expected of her for the better of others.

Dr. Jo lost her brother and father to disease and determined to help others fight a similar fate.  She may have had some false starts, but eventually she made changes that improved the lives of children, particularly poor children, throughout New York City and America.

I was drawn to this book in part because of Dr. Jo's name and in part because I find inspirational biographical children's books a joy to read.  I did not realize that it has a Canadian author and qualifies for the challenge!

Other biographical picture books that may be of interest are: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum (I read this a few years back with the kiddos, and they LOVED it), Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenia Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, and Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles (I read these last two with the youngest and he enjoyed them).