Suffrage, Cows and Taxes
The Taxing Case of Cows
a True Story about Suffrage
written by Iris Van Rynbach and Pegi Deitz Shea, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
Clarion Books, 2010
non-fiction picture book
Sisters, Abby and Julia Smith, live in the late 1800s when it still wasn’t legal for women to vote. Because of this, they refuse to pay property taxes. The town takes their cows to sell at auction to pay for their back taxes. But, the sisters still refuse to pay. At the auction, the sisters buy back the cows cheap. Back and forth go the cows over the years. The sisters tour the U.S. giving speeches about women’s rights.
It’s a simple, clear story line which gives the reader a good understanding of these two determined, heroic women.
BOOK PLAY: Learn about Amendment 19.
