Junko’s Climb

Spring 1975.

Fourteen climbers from the Ladies Climbing Club in Japan begin their climb up Mount Everest. Junko Tabei, a mountain climbing pioneer--the woman who formed the group --faces many hardships as she leads them: frigid temperatures, gusting winds, an avalanche, injuries, altitude sickness, and a death-defying ice ridge crossing. Yet she perseveres, and when she reaches the summit of Mount Everest, she becomes the first woman--and the 36th person--to do so!

While Junko made history with her trailblazing climb, her path was far from easy. She was small in stature, and often sick as a child. Most climbing clubs of her time were only for men who put up countless obstacles to keep Junko from climbing. But she didn’t let her gender, size, or traditional societal norms stop her. Junko trained hard, formed her own climbing club for women, and became passionate about preserving mountains and wild spaces.

Junko’s story shows that determination triumphs over every obstacle, and her climb goes beyond her historical accomplishment--as of June 2020, she has inspired 630 females to follow in her footsteps.

Elyssa Gavin teaches English for Speakers of Other Languages at the middle school level. She previously taught kindergarten and first-grade special education classes, providing her with great insight into her audience. This is her debut picture book. She lives with her family in Olathe, KS.

HifuMiyo is a Japanese illustrator, who uses a combination of digital techniques and her knowledge of silkscreen printing to create textured and atmospheric illustrations. She focuses on creating personable characters, strong narratives, and calming environments. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Miyo now lives in France.