Fantastically Great Stories: Kate Pankhurst on Daring to Create Change Through Children's Books

Kate Pankhurst is a celebrated children's author and illustrator whose groundbreaking work has transformed how young readers learn about influential women in history. After training as an illustrator, Kate found her passion in creating engaging non-fiction children's books, most notably her revolutionary "Fantastically Great Women" series. Through her unique blend of historical storytelling and captivating illustrations, she has carved out a distinct space in children's literature, making history accessible and exciting for young audiences.

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of She Dares Wins, host Michelle speaks with Kate Pankhurst about her remarkable journey from creating childhood comics to becoming a celebrated author and illustrator. Kate shares candid insights about breaking into children's publishing, the evolution of her "Fantastically Great Women" series, and its unexpected adaptation into a West End musical. The conversation explores how Kate's work has helped fill a crucial gap in children's literature by bringing previously overlooked stories of remarkable women to the forefront.

Key Takeaways:

• Kate's career exemplifies the power of embracing uncertainty and taking creative risks
• The success of the "Fantastically Great Women" series demonstrates the strong appetite for diverse historical narratives in children's literature
• Navigating a freelance creative career requires resilience, adaptability, and openness to unexpected opportunities
• Children's books can serve as powerful tools for initiating important conversations about history, equality, and empowerment
• The adaptation of Kate's work into different mediums shows how impactful children's literature can reach beyond the page

Notable Moments:

• Kate reveals how her childhood love of comics and the Beano influenced her career path
• The fascinating origin story of how the "Fantastically Great Women" series came to be when there was nothing like it in the market
• Discussion of how women's achievements in sports, science, and aviation were historically overlooked
• Insights into the creative process of transforming historical figures into engaging characters for young readers
• The surprising story of how her books were adapted into a musical featuring songs by Girls Aloud's songwriter

Memorable Quotes:

• "My whole career has been based on 'I'm not really sure if I can do that, but okay, I'll just have a go.'"
• "When I first started going into schools, I don't remember learning about any women from history... there's just so many stories."
• "We all change the world a little bit every day."
• "Reading and books are so important... they help us understand other people and understand ourselves."
• "Every book you read as a kid has the power to change the world a little bit."

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