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The Girl Who Wore Pants
Luisa Capetillo decides to break the strict rules of her time with a simple but revolutionary gesture: putting on pants. A brave act that initiated an important social transformation.
Luisa was a brave girl from Puerto Rico who, ever since she was young, fought for what she believed was right and defended women's rights. She lived in a time when women had to wear skirts, even though they were often uncomfortable and did not allow them to move freely. Luisa decided to change things, becoming one of the first women to wear pants in public!
Based on real events, celebrate the impact of Luisa Capetillo who was an activist and change-maker!
Luisa was a brave girl from Puerto Rico who, ever since she was young, fought for what she believed was right and defended women's rights. She lived in a time when women had to wear skirts, even though they were often uncomfortable and did not allow them to move freely. Luisa decided to change things, becoming one of the first women to wear pants in public!
Based on real events, celebrate the impact of Luisa Capetillo who was an activist and change-maker!
36 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 11, 2025
Some people — although not enough — have heard about Amelia Bloomer, who popularized what was called the Turkish dress for women and what we would call harem pants. But those were not real trousers. For popularizing real pants for women, we must turn to Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican writer, labor leader, anarchist and women’s rights activist from the turn of the 20th century.
As a child, free-thinking Luisa borrowed her father’s trousers, which allowed her to climb trees, run and get around much more easily than the heavy skirts worn by women and girls in the 19th century. As in the United States with bloomers, at first people mocked her, but by the 1920s, most people had come around. That’s how change works. Highly, highly recommended to readers of all ages!
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and NubeOcho in exchange for an honest review.
As a child, free-thinking Luisa borrowed her father’s trousers, which allowed her to climb trees, run and get around much more easily than the heavy skirts worn by women and girls in the 19th century. As in the United States with bloomers, at first people mocked her, but by the 1920s, most people had come around. That’s how change works. Highly, highly recommended to readers of all ages!
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and NubeOcho in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2026
Qué preciosidad de dibujos hace siempre Esther y que bonita historia para contar.
Qué importante es que libros como éstos llenen las estanterías de bibliotecas y librerías, que los niños y niñas los lean y las tengan como referentes.
Qué triste el saber cómo ponerse pantalones fue durante tanto tiempo un acto feminista, subversivo y rebelde.
Qué importante es que libros como éstos llenen las estanterías de bibliotecas y librerías, que los niños y niñas los lean y las tengan como referentes.
Qué triste el saber cómo ponerse pantalones fue durante tanto tiempo un acto feminista, subversivo y rebelde.
February 11, 2025
Recibí este ARC a través de NetGalley.
El libro de Isern ilumina un poco la vida de Luisa Capetillo, una líder laboral puertorriqueña conocida, entre muchas otras cosas, por ser la primera mujer en Puerto Rico en usar pantalones en público (en 1915).
Aunque en general disfruté este libro, y creo que el arte en particular es hermoso, expresivo y tiene un sentido particularmente bueno del movimiento y de la composición, tengo algunas reservas.
El libro comienza en un estilo de biografía juvenil, con información básica sobre dónde nació Capetillo, qué hicieron su madre y su padre, y su educación temprana, lo que me llevó a esperar que este tipo de narrativa biográfica continuara. Sin embargo, una vez que llegamos al punto en el que Capatillo decide probarse los pantalones, dejamos atrás casi todos estos detalles biográficos y nos enfocamos de manera más general en su uso de pantalones y las reacciones generales que este provocó.
Así que esa iba a ser mi única queja, pero luego miré la entrada de Wikipedia de Capetillo antes de escribir esta reseña para ver quién era en realidad, y uh... ¿este libro contiene una gran inexactitud? Para ser justos, la fuente citada en el artículo de Wikipedia ya no está disponible y no he investigado más, pero según esa entrada: "El 24 de julio de 1915, desafió a la sociedad dominante al convertirse en la primera mujer de Puerto Rico en usar pantalones en público. Capetillo fue enviada a prisión por lo que entonces se consideró un 'delito', pero el juez luego retiró los cargos. Ella repetiría este acto de rebelión nuevamente al bajarse del barco rumbo a Cuba, donde el juez no fue tan indulgente, lo que la llevó a cumplir una condena."
El clímax de este libro es cuando el juez en Cuba deja ir a Capetillo. Quizás el autor haya elegido combinar estos dos eventos, pero entonces, ¿por qué dice específicamente que este ocurrió en cuba? También aprendí un montón de otras cosas que ella hizo en Wikipedia, como su trabajo en derechos de las mujeres y activismo laboral, que sentí que deberían haber sido al menos mencionadas brevemente aquí, de alguna manera concreta, para que los lectores tuvieran una idea de quién era esta persona además de "la chica de los pantalones".
El libro de Isern ilumina un poco la vida de Luisa Capetillo, una líder laboral puertorriqueña conocida, entre muchas otras cosas, por ser la primera mujer en Puerto Rico en usar pantalones en público (en 1915).
Aunque en general disfruté este libro, y creo que el arte en particular es hermoso, expresivo y tiene un sentido particularmente bueno del movimiento y de la composición, tengo algunas reservas.
El libro comienza en un estilo de biografía juvenil, con información básica sobre dónde nació Capetillo, qué hicieron su madre y su padre, y su educación temprana, lo que me llevó a esperar que este tipo de narrativa biográfica continuara. Sin embargo, una vez que llegamos al punto en el que Capatillo decide probarse los pantalones, dejamos atrás casi todos estos detalles biográficos y nos enfocamos de manera más general en su uso de pantalones y las reacciones generales que este provocó.
Así que esa iba a ser mi única queja, pero luego miré la entrada de Wikipedia de Capetillo antes de escribir esta reseña para ver quién era en realidad, y uh... ¿este libro contiene una gran inexactitud? Para ser justos, la fuente citada en el artículo de Wikipedia ya no está disponible y no he investigado más, pero según esa entrada: "El 24 de julio de 1915, desafió a la sociedad dominante al convertirse en la primera mujer de Puerto Rico en usar pantalones en público. Capetillo fue enviada a prisión por lo que entonces se consideró un 'delito', pero el juez luego retiró los cargos. Ella repetiría este acto de rebelión nuevamente al bajarse del barco rumbo a Cuba, donde el juez no fue tan indulgente, lo que la llevó a cumplir una condena."
El clímax de este libro es cuando el juez en Cuba deja ir a Capetillo. Quizás el autor haya elegido combinar estos dos eventos, pero entonces, ¿por qué dice específicamente que este ocurrió en cuba? También aprendí un montón de otras cosas que ella hizo en Wikipedia, como su trabajo en derechos de las mujeres y activismo laboral, que sentí que deberían haber sido al menos mencionadas brevemente aquí, de alguna manera concreta, para que los lectores tuvieran una idea de quién era esta persona además de "la chica de los pantalones".
November 16, 2024
Una historia con un mensaje precioso.
Las ilustraciones son maravillosas.
Las ilustraciones son maravillosas.
February 22, 2025
Esta biografía ilustrada cuenta la historia de Luisa Capetillo, una activista puertorriqueña que luchó para los derechos de trabajadores y mujeres, entre otras cosas. Comienza describiendo su educación y los primeros años de su vida, para luego destacar su valentía al llevar pantalones en una época y una sociedad donde esto no estaba permitido. El arte es hermoso y me afectó profundamente un par de páginas que muestra la misma escena dos veces: en la primera, Luisa se presenta como niña, y en la segunda como una mujer joven. Representa su desarrollo personal, pero también la consistencia de sus creencias y acciones en toda su vida.
Me pareció que la información biográfica general -- su historia familiar y los papeles de sus padres en si vida, las descripciones de su escuela -- pueden ayudar a los lectores jóvenes a entender a Luisa como una persona, además de una figura histórica. Como ellos, era una niña. Aprendió de su familia, no le gustaba la escuela, y a veces sentía que el mundo era injusto. También creo que esta representación puede ayduar a los lectores a relacionarse con ella, y entender que ellos también pueden ser admirable y valiente como Luisa.
Dicho esto, porque su historia me pareció tan admirable, busqué un poco de información sobre la vida de Luisa Capetillo y tengo preguntas sobre algunas elecciones narrativas. Isern presenta Luisa como niña y joven, pero cuando tuvieron lugar estos eventos en realidad, ella tenía casi 40 años. También, leí que Capetillo fue arrestada dos veces, primero en Puerto Rico y después en Cuba. El juez que retiró los cargos era puertorriqueño. El juez cubano no estaba tan dispuesto. No entiendo por qué se combinaron estos dos eventos.
Además de esos problemas, en fin este libro me resultó inspirador, y espero leer más sobre Capetillo. 3.5 estrellas.
Recibí este libro de NetGalley y NubeOcho a cambio de una reseña honesta.
Me pareció que la información biográfica general -- su historia familiar y los papeles de sus padres en si vida, las descripciones de su escuela -- pueden ayudar a los lectores jóvenes a entender a Luisa como una persona, además de una figura histórica. Como ellos, era una niña. Aprendió de su familia, no le gustaba la escuela, y a veces sentía que el mundo era injusto. También creo que esta representación puede ayduar a los lectores a relacionarse con ella, y entender que ellos también pueden ser admirable y valiente como Luisa.
Dicho esto, porque su historia me pareció tan admirable, busqué un poco de información sobre la vida de Luisa Capetillo y tengo preguntas sobre algunas elecciones narrativas. Isern presenta Luisa como niña y joven, pero cuando tuvieron lugar estos eventos en realidad, ella tenía casi 40 años. También, leí que Capetillo fue arrestada dos veces, primero en Puerto Rico y después en Cuba. El juez que retiró los cargos era puertorriqueño. El juez cubano no estaba tan dispuesto. No entiendo por qué se combinaron estos dos eventos.
Además de esos problemas, en fin este libro me resultó inspirador, y espero leer más sobre Capetillo. 3.5 estrellas.
Recibí este libro de NetGalley y NubeOcho a cambio de una reseña honesta.
September 22, 2025
Pants are such a ubiquitous part of the wardrobe of most girls and women today, making it hard to imagine a time when this wasn't the case. Puerto Rican Luisa Capetillo, an open-minded, groundbreaking individual, defied the norms of her time by wearing her father's pants since they were more practical for daily life. She even read to illiterate factory workers in the hopes that they would also start to think for themselves. Even though she was arrested for wearing pants while in Cuba, the judge dismissed the case, and other women started dressing for comfort as well. This inspiring slice of history is a vivid reminder of what women have had to overcome over the years. The artwork effectively depicts Luisa's personality and her liberating fashion choice. Who would think that a garment such as bloomers or pants could make such a big difference in how someone navigates the world? But of course, it does.
March 23, 2026
4.4! About Luisa Capetillo, who was born in Puerto Rico. Discusses how she was a curious girl, always learning, and how her skirt got in her way of moving freely. She eventually starts wearing pants and people talk, but she doesn't care how they talked about her. She started reading to women in factories to encourage others to be able to think for themselves. She eventually gets arrested in Cuba in her pants for causing a public scandal, but the court acquits her and she continues to wear pants.
2-3 longer sentences. Can be used for a storytime if broken into two parts, or for kids 4-5 as the youngest age range. Love the illustrations! Muted colors, nice linework, expressive facial expressions. Last image with women wearing pants is inclusive - includes different skin colors, age ranges, and abilities (wheelchair).
2-3 longer sentences. Can be used for a storytime if broken into two parts, or for kids 4-5 as the youngest age range. Love the illustrations! Muted colors, nice linework, expressive facial expressions. Last image with women wearing pants is inclusive - includes different skin colors, age ranges, and abilities (wheelchair).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
Todos los libros con las ilustraciones de Esther Gili para mi siempre son un acierto. Las ilustraciones están llenas de detalles que completan la historia de una manera sensacional.
Yo lo tengo para mi ahijado y le encanta, cada vez descubre algo nuevo en las ilustraciones y la historia es muy divertida y entretenida
Yo lo tengo para mi ahijado y le encanta, cada vez descubre algo nuevo en las ilustraciones y la historia es muy divertida y entretenida
January 17, 2025
Increíble homenaje a Luisa Capetillo, una mujer que la lió parda por usar pantalones cuando estaba prohibido 😍
April 30, 2025
Great story! I really enjoyed that the right for women to wear pants was born from a child's wish to run and climb trees easier.
May 7, 2025
This is a beautiful and simple picture book story about Luisa Capetillo's journey to be accepted in society while wearing pants.
May 23, 2025
Gorgeous, gorgeous images. The style was really pretty and cool. Based off a real woman who wore pants and it was a scandal. A nice short story and great to show female activism to young readers.
July 16, 2025
This was cute and I liked the illustrations but there was no backmatter or context for the woman this book was about.
February 11, 2025
I received this digital ARC via NetGalley.
Isern's picture book illuminates a bit of the life of Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican labor leader known, among many other things, for being the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear pants in public (in 1915.)
While in general I enjoyed this book, and I think the art in particular is beautiful, expressive, and has a particularly good feel for motion and composition, I do have some reservations.
The book starts in a classic juvenile biography style, with some basic info on where Capetillo was born, what her mother and father did, and her early education, which led me to expect this sort of biographical narrative to continue. However, once we get to the point where Capatillo decides to try out pants, we leave almost all of this biographical detail behind and focus more broadly on her pants-wearing and the general reactions it caused.
Suddenly we're being told she's reading to workers at "the factory" (I really did a double take here) but no factory was ever mentioned previously, so we are left to infer the life events that actually led to her being there. A similar moment happens soon after when we are told she is stopped by police "while traveling in Cuba" (how? why? what does this Capetillo even do? if only a juvenile biography would tell me!) for her pants-wearing, but then is let go by the judge after she explains that she always wears pants.
So that was going to be my only gripe, but then I happened to look at Capetillo's wikipedia entry before writing this review to see who she actually was, and uh...this book contains a big inaccuracy? Now to be fair the source cited in the wikipedia article is no longer available, and I have not dug deeper, but per that entry: "In July 24, 1915, she challenged the mainstream society by becoming the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear pants in public. Capetillo was sent to jail for what was then considered to be a 'crime', but the judge later dropped the charges against her. She would repeat this act of rebellion again stepping off the boat into Cuba where the judge was not so lenient leading to her serving time."
The like...climax of this book is the judge in Cuba specifically letting Capetillo go. Perhaps the author has chosen to combine these two events, but then why go out of the way to mention it was in Cuba, particularly when I already mention that feels kind of out of left field in the first place? I also learned a bunch of things she actually did from Wikipedia, like her work in women's rights and labor activism, that I felt should have been at least mentioned briefly here, in some sort of concrete way, so that readers would actually get a sense of who this person was besides "pants girl."
Isern's picture book illuminates a bit of the life of Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican labor leader known, among many other things, for being the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear pants in public (in 1915.)
While in general I enjoyed this book, and I think the art in particular is beautiful, expressive, and has a particularly good feel for motion and composition, I do have some reservations.
The book starts in a classic juvenile biography style, with some basic info on where Capetillo was born, what her mother and father did, and her early education, which led me to expect this sort of biographical narrative to continue. However, once we get to the point where Capatillo decides to try out pants, we leave almost all of this biographical detail behind and focus more broadly on her pants-wearing and the general reactions it caused.
Suddenly we're being told she's reading to workers at "the factory" (I really did a double take here) but no factory was ever mentioned previously, so we are left to infer the life events that actually led to her being there. A similar moment happens soon after when we are told she is stopped by police "while traveling in Cuba" (how? why? what does this Capetillo even do? if only a juvenile biography would tell me!) for her pants-wearing, but then is let go by the judge after she explains that she always wears pants.
So that was going to be my only gripe, but then I happened to look at Capetillo's wikipedia entry before writing this review to see who she actually was, and uh...this book contains a big inaccuracy? Now to be fair the source cited in the wikipedia article is no longer available, and I have not dug deeper, but per that entry: "In July 24, 1915, she challenged the mainstream society by becoming the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear pants in public. Capetillo was sent to jail for what was then considered to be a 'crime', but the judge later dropped the charges against her. She would repeat this act of rebellion again stepping off the boat into Cuba where the judge was not so lenient leading to her serving time."
The like...climax of this book is the judge in Cuba specifically letting Capetillo go. Perhaps the author has chosen to combine these two events, but then why go out of the way to mention it was in Cuba, particularly when I already mention that feels kind of out of left field in the first place? I also learned a bunch of things she actually did from Wikipedia, like her work in women's rights and labor activism, that I felt should have been at least mentioned briefly here, in some sort of concrete way, so that readers would actually get a sense of who this person was besides "pants girl."
February 27, 2025
This is a juvenile non-fiction biography of Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican writer and women’s rights activist. It’s not quite a true biography in the sense that the story skips around to focus on her rebellious act of wearing pants. It doesn’t give a lot of other information about her life and accomplishments, so this is best for much younger children who are getting their first experiences with biographies.
ARC from NetGalley
ARC from NetGalley
February 4, 2025
This isn't the first children's book aimed at telling the story of a girl who defied gender norms, but it's certainly a great one. The Girl Who Wore Pants tells (at least a portion of) the story of Luisa Capetillo, who I'd never heard of before! With the help of truly lovely illustrations by Gili, Isern follows Capetillo through her life as she takes matters into her own hands and decides that she, and no one else, will dictate what she wears and what she does. Despite the rude looks, gossip, and even landing in front of a judge, Capetillo never loses her sense of self-determination.
The *only* downside to this book is that I hoped the end would have some kind of info/photo about the actual Luisa Capetillo, who Google describes as an "anarchist writer, activist, labor organizer who fought for workers' rights, women's rights, free love, and human emancipation." (Sign me up for THAT book!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The *only* downside to this book is that I hoped the end would have some kind of info/photo about the actual Luisa Capetillo, who Google describes as an "anarchist writer, activist, labor organizer who fought for workers' rights, women's rights, free love, and human emancipation." (Sign me up for THAT book!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and NubeOcho for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Luisa Capetillo, one of the first women to wear pants. This story is a great reminder that customs created long ago and upheld just because "that's how it has always been" can be changed. It also encourages readers to be brave in the face of scrutiny.
I was left wanting more. More of the story or more information about the real history.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Luisa Capetillo, one of the first women to wear pants. This story is a great reminder that customs created long ago and upheld just because "that's how it has always been" can be changed. It also encourages readers to be brave in the face of scrutiny.
I was left wanting more. More of the story or more information about the real history.
January 30, 2025
Just finished reading a ARC of this beautiful story showing how just because something is a norm, does not mean it always is the right way for all to abide by. While this story is about girls wearing pants, it opens the readers eyes to other aspects of life and shows the possibility of different ways of looking at the world. Why uphold a custom that is impractical and uncomfortable, just because that’s how it’s always been. Great story and amazing illustrations to represent the text. Hope to see many more from Susanna Isern and Ester Gili!
February 6, 2025
I adored this book. It is so inspirational, with its overarching message about defying discriminatory gendered customs. Young girls need more books like this, to show them how much of a difference one girl's bravery can make.
December 27, 2024
There's something very no-nonsense about this book - much like its subject - which is perfect because its simple structure manages to relay not just the story of Luisa Capetillo, but what restraints women faced in recent history. All in a very kid friendly, relatable way.
October 25, 2024
ARC from Edelweiss.
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