Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter

Reach for this book when your child is pushing back against arbitrary rules or expressing frustration with what boys or girls are allowed to do. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels boxed in by expectations and needs to see a historical model of courage and self-determination. This beautifully illustrated biography tells the true story of Jovita Valdovinos, who defied her father and the laws of post-revolutionary Mexico to lead a group of peasant revolutionaries known as Cristeros. While the backdrop is a struggle for religious freedom, the heart of the story is Jovita's personal journey of identity, as she dons her father's pants and takes to the mountains to fight for her beliefs. It is a powerful exploration of bravery and the refusal to let others define your limits, appropriate for children ages 4 to 9 who are beginning to navigate their own sense of justice and agency.