Los pantalones de Luisa

Gr 1-4–This fictionalized picture book biography shines a light on Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican feminist writer and labor rights activist. Born in the late 19th century, Capetillo felt restricted by the expectation that girls and women could not wear pants. The rambunctious girl would rather be playing outside and advancing her studies than learning how to embroider. When a neighborhood boy challenges her to a race and to climb a tree, she is foiled by her long skirts. The girl has a revelation; donning a pair of her father’s old pants, Capetillo scandalizes her community but impacts the women’s rights movement in Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean. Eventually, she’s arrested for indecency but is declared innocent by a judge. Isern strikes a good balance between historical fact and a kid-friendly narrative about a spunky girl who just wants the freedom to move and play and make her own decisions. The colorful pencil-like illustrations add to the celebratory and cheerful feel of the text and recall Capetillo’s tropical homeland. Back matter about the historical figure is missing but the book handily fits in with other tales of girls who won’t be restricted by societal norms.