For any child who dreams of grand adventures or faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this inspiring biography celebrates courage, resilience, and achieving the impossible.
Reach for this book when your child doubts their ability to achieve a big dream, especially if they feel that age, background, or past challenges are holding them back. "To the Top of the World" tells the incredible true story of Barbara Hillary. After a career as a nurse and surviving cancer, she became the first Black woman to reach both the North and South Poles, all after the age of 75. This biography beautifully illustrates themes of resilience, bravery, and the power of a curious spirit. It's an inspiring read for children ages 6 to 10, perfect for showing them that it is never too late to chase an adventure and that obstacles can be overcome with determination.
Describes the inherent dangers of polar expeditions, like extreme cold and challenging terrain.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with racism and sexism as historical and personal obstacles Barbara faced. Her battle with cancer is also a key part of her story, presented directly as a significant challenge she overcame. These topics are handled in an age-appropriate, matter-of-fact way, framing them as difficulties that tested but did not break her spirit. The resolution is entirely hopeful and triumphant.
Ideal Reader
This is for an 8-year-old who is starting to read biographies and is fascinated by real-life heroes and adventurers. It’s also perfect for a child, particularly a Black girl, who needs to see powerful representation of resilience, or any child who has expressed feeling “too old” or “not strong enough” to try something new.
Parent Prep
A parent might want to preview the pages that discuss Barbara's cancer and the historical context of racism she faced. A brief, pre-reading conversation about setting big goals and overcoming challenges could be beneficial, but the book also stands well on its own. A parent overhears their child saying, “I can’t do it, it’s too hard,” or expressing frustration that they aren't good at something right away. The child might also be facing a setback (like not making a team) and feeling discouraged.
Age Experience
A 6-year-old will be captivated by the adventure: the dogsleds, the extreme cold, and the idea of standing on top of the world. A 10-year-old will grasp the deeper layers: the significance of her accomplishments as a Black woman, her advanced age, her status as a cancer survivor, and the immense mental and physical fortitude required.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many biographies of adventurers that focus on feats of youth, this book's power lies in its celebration of achievement in later life. Barbara Hillary’s story is a unique intersection of adventure, Black history, women's history, and disability/survivor representation, making it a multifaceted story of perseverance.
Read plot summary
This picture book biography chronicles the life of Barbara Hillary. It covers her childhood in Harlem during the Great Depression, her career as a nurse, her battle with lung cancer, and her late-in-life passion for travel and adventure. The narrative focuses on her monumental achievements of becoming the first African American woman to reach the North Pole at age 75 and the South Pole at age 79, detailing her training and the challenges she faced during the expeditions.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Barbara Hillary didn't go on her biggest adventures until she was over 75. What does her story teach us about trying new things at any age?
2
Besides the freezing weather, what were some of the other challenges Barbara had to overcome to reach her goals? Which one do you think was the most difficult to face?
3
The book says Barbara had a 'curious spirit.' What do you think that means? How did being curious help her in her life?
4
When Barbara stood at the North Pole, she was the first Black woman ever to do so. How do you think that moment felt for her? Why are 'firsts' like this so important?
