• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7
• Reading age: 6 to 9

From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire.

Sarah is the first person in her family who wasn’t born into slavery in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn’t mean that Sarah doesn’t have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair.
One day, Sarah’s hair starts to fall out! It’s itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won’t grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she’s used before. Her hair grows and grows! That’s when she decides to rebrand herself as “Madam C. J. Walker,” and begins her business empire.
Madam C. J. Walker Builds a Business is the story of a leader in the hair care industry, but it’s also an inspiring tale about the importance of empowering women to become economically independent.
This historical fiction chapter book includes additional text on Madam C. J. Walker’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to encourage entrepreneurship.
About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series
Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!

Rebel Girls is a global, multi-platform entertainment brand, dedicated to inspiring and instilling confidence in a generation of girls around the world. Rebel Girls started from a 2016 international best-selling children’s book, featuring real-life, extraordinary women throughout history, geography, and field of excellence, focusing on creators, innovators, leaders, and champions. In addition to its best-selling book series, Rebel Girls creates an award-winning, chart-topping podcast, brought to life by the voices of phenomenal current-day women. Rebel Girls also offers virtual experiences and toys, and is expanding its reach to merchandise lines, live theater, and a digital app. Its community of self-identified Rebel Girls spans more than 100 countries, with 6 million books sold in 51 languages and 13 million podcast downloads

Rebel Girls' profile page

Salini Perera is a Canadian illustrator who uses she/her pronouns. She was born in Sri Lanka and raised in Scarborough, and has been making art for as long as she can remember. Now, she gets to make art for picture books, a lifelong dream come true. Salini lives in Toronto with her husband, Michael, and their three cats, Victoria, Albert and Alice.

Salini Perera's profile page

"An inspiring story for any young girl waiting to make her mark on society." ― Kirkus Reviews
"Rooted in fact, this lightly fictionalized account gives readers an opportunity to connect with Breedlove as a storied individual whose entrepreneurial prowess and support of black women continues to impact people today." ― Publishers Weekly
"In this detailed, remarkable book filled with both inspiration and sadness, young readers will see the motivation behind Sarah's outstanding achievement...The knowledge that her life wasn't easy makes Sarah's success that much sweeter for readers to enjoy." ― Common Sense Media

"Activities at the back of the book make [this] great to spark inspiration in girls and boys." ― Metro Parent