Vigdís. A Book About the World’s First Female President (2019)

Vigdís. A Book About the World’s First Female President (2019)

A beautiful and entertaining story about a remarkable woman who dreamed of becoming a sea captain but ended up as the President of Iceland!

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir made history in 1980 when she became the world’s first woman to be democratically elected president. Her rise to Iceland’s highest office caused ripples throughout the nation and beyond, challenging the conservative ideas of older generations and inspiring girls and women to think big.

In this acclaimed picture book by Rán Flygenring, one of Iceland’s most celebrated illustrators, readers are invited to join a young and imaginative writer-in-the-making, who pays an unforgettable visit to Vigdís on a mission to write the president’s life story. In her visit the young writer learns a thing or two about the trailblazer Vigdís and the presidential office.

R E V I E W S ★ “In this winningly informal introduction, a budding young writer sits with Vigdis to enjoy her famous Bessastadir cookies and chat about her early years...Vigdis does close on an eco-friendly note by declaring to her pint-size interviewer a fondness for planting trees during public appearances. That, along with the tally of her groundbreaking achievements, earns her a well-deserved spot on the role-model shelf.” JOHN PETERS, BOOKLIST (STARRED review)