Oh No They Don't: Trailblazers
Boundary breakers and history makers are the order of the day in this lively and factually rich record of trailblazers across modern history. A variety of fields are covered, with sportspeople, musicians, ecologists, adventurers, tech tycoons and politicians coming under the spotlight.
The writing style of this book is lively, with attention spans being engaged for just long enough to deliver some serious trivia about people whose lives have impacted the world around them. Alongside familiar facts, Huang shares some lesser-known details about movements, moments and people that will leave even the best-informed readers surprised and enriched. Alongside historic events, social issues centring around civil rights, human rights and the plight of the planet feature prominently.
Caldwell’s illustrations are vivid, striking a balance between realism and a comic book style that makes the stories feel authentic and accessible at the same time. The refrain of ‘Oh no they didn’t/Oh no there wasn’t’ is brilliantly framed in dominant speech bubbles that draw the readers’ attention to common misconceptions and urban myths that can surround events and eras.
The theme of digging deeper and going behind the headlines lends the little cameos of different people from history genuine interest and dimension. Sportspeople are celebrated for their skills, but also for their philanthropy; David Attenborough’s insistence that he is not an ‘animal lover’ provides an opportunity for our relationship with our environment to be explored, etc. Accurate, attractive and informed, this book will prove an entertaining education to many.
