Her Name Was Mary Katherine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

Her Name Was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION Little, Brown and Company, 2022. $19. 9780316298322 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Mary Katharine Goddard grew up in colonial Connecticut, but when she was a teenager, her father died and she moved with her mother to Providence RI to help run her brother's print shop. She followed him to Philadelphia and helped him run a paper called The Pennsylvania Chronicle, then on to Baltimore to run a different newspaper. Things were heating up with the British, and Mary Katharine made her opinions clear, printing commentaries on the unfair treatment of the colonists. In 1775, when the Revolutionary War began, Mary Katharine continued to publish her newspaper - without her brother now. She even changed his name to hers as the publisher of the newspaper. She was a very busy woman, besides running the paper, she was also the first postmaster of Baltimore. When the continental congress moved to Baltimore, asked Mary Katharine to print the first official copy of the Declaration of Independence, complete with the names of all the signers. 

Such a fascinating story! I had no idea! Beautiful illustrations complement this remarkable picture book. I especially loved the illustration where everyone in town is reading the document, and then, in black and white, the background is soldiers. Can't wait to show this to my American History teachers.

Lisa Librarian