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Daisy Sunshine is filled with the 1970s with its freedoms and joyous chararcters, underpinned by the real issue of the rights of girls and women to have equal opportunity.

In a rare book, Daisy Sunshine makes the second rise of feminism relevant to young people today.

Daisy Sunshine by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Teresa Culkin-Lawrence (National Museum of Australia) PB RRP $11.95 Reviewed by Hazel Edwards www.hazeledwards.com

International Women’s Day seems an appropriate time to review ‘Daisy Sunshine’ which in a fun way explores historic ways to encourage girls to try, regardless. It provides a great role model in the aptly named and feisty, Daisy Sunshine. Susanne Gervay was handed the 1970s t-shirt from the National Museum's collection with SUPER WOMAN written across it. The brief was: 'Create a story using this t-shirt so that kids 8-12 understand Feminism'.

Abstractions are hard to write. So Susanne Gervay has made it personal, in a way in which readers can identify, via the involving character of Daisy and her mother. Roles are reversed. The daughter encourages the hard working mother and so younger readers will relate. Illustrator Teresa Culkin-Lawrence’s colourful cover and inside illustrations have captured the details of the 1970s period.

Making Tracks is an important series, where items from the Museum’s Collection are featured in stories commissioned from well known authors and indirectly whole periods of history are made accessible by today’s young readers. Daisy Sunshine successfully evokes the 1970s feminism, but other books have evoked goldfields, bushfires, Antarctic expeditions, bushrangers and convict labouring. Maybe this whole series, which has excellent notes and resources on the Museum site, should be re-introduced in an audio format or across other doco multi-mediums? After all, Daisy Sunshine has songs within her book. Then mothers and daughter (and sons) can listen en route to school or work? And the entire series would make great kids’ TV. There are excellent teacher resources on the author website http://www.sgervay.com/books/daisy sunshine.php The book is highly Recommended