ruth bader ginsburg looms large in our memories and on our library shelves. In the last six years, a whopping 58 biographies have been published about RBG. they range from the colorful board book to the academic text, from the beginning reader to the feminist manifesto. If you’d like to learn more about the first Jewish woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, there’s a book for you.
While it’s great to see our late great heroine getting the attention she deserves, over 58 volumes is a lot to choose from. The children of this country, male or female, Jewish or not, should take some time to learn about Ginsburg’s fascinating life and amazing legacy, but where do you start?
You are reading: Ruth bader ginsburg books for kids
never fear. I’m a children’s librarian here to point you to the rbg biographies you just can’t miss, the must-read titles for every age group. You and your children will leave these books feeling that you both knew Ginsburg personally and strongly appreciate his accomplishments.
I read (okay, sometimes flipped through) almost two dozen books published between 2016 and 2021, looking for the ones with more than the same set of cute anecdotes (did you know he broke a tooth twirling a cane at school? i definitely do now), that present information in an age-appropriate yet clear way, and have images that actually look like rbg (one particular dud had paper-cut illustrations that made it look like peppa pig, which went straight to the bottom of the stack).
Without further ado, I present to you the five definitive biographies of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for children.
best board book
Okay, I lied a bit. There is no “best board book” on RGB. I read two: one that fell flat and one that was great, except the text was really beyond what I’d consider a board book reading level (ie, for babies and toddlers). I have yet to find a board book on Ginsburg with toddler-friendly content that isn’t too vague to be meaningful. dress your little ones in rbg costumes for purim and hang on a bit; you’ll soon be able to acquaint them with their awesomeness.
best for reading aloud
Looking for a girl power bedtime story? Do you want your child to get acquainted with your heroes? I’ve got you covered.
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“no truth without ruth: the life of ruth bader ginsburg” by kathleen krull is a simple, clearly worded narrative that hits all the important points, is nicely illustrated, and includes excellent “top 10 moments ruth bader ginsburg fought for fairness on the supreme court list” at the end.
best for a child who is new to reading on their own
At some point, kids want books they can tackle on their own. Leveled readers have the perfect balance of information and ease of use for a child who is new to reading rather than being read to.
rose davidson’s “ruth bader ginsburg” gives kids a proper grounding in rbg’s achievements and how they affected the entire country. it’s packed with photos, side notes, and other facts to help them understand what it all means.
best for an elementary or middle school classroom, or for an older child who wants to learn something but isn’t ready for a full chapter book
The picture book biography format can be a bit awkward: There are beautifully written and illustrated titles that don’t necessarily reach their intended audience because, on the surface, they appear to be aimed at younger readers. but some of the richest language and best art is found in titles like this.
“Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” by Doreen Rappaport is packed with solid informational content and thoughtful language. the book uses quotes from things rbg actually said to punctuate the descriptions of his life and impact.
best for biographical book report
Happens like clockwork every January: Third graders flock to my library looking for material for the biographical book annual report. if your child hasn’t been assigned one yet, it will happen eventually.
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“The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Story” by Susan B. Katz is a well-written chapter book, packed with engaging and colorful images that highlight Ginsburg’s story and keep the reader focused. essential vocabulary words are in bold and then defined in a glossary on the back.
ideal for elementary students, teens or adults who want to know more but don’t want to deal with a 700 page tome
There are some great rbg books in the adult bio section of your local library, but not everyone has the time and head space to read an encyclopedic academic volume chock full of legal jargon and exhaustive footnotes. That doesn’t mean that appreciating Ginsburg’s true genius is out of reach. you can learn everything you really need to know from this short but satisfying book.
“dissenter on the bench: ruth bader ginsburg’s life and work” by victoria ortiz frames rbg’s life with vignettes of important cases she worked on, showing the connections between her life experiences and her later influence. very detailed but fully readable.
additional rbg content we can all enjoy
“The RBG Workout: How It Stays Strong and So Can You” by Bryant Johnson written by Ginsburg’s personal trainer (with his permission). details the training he was doing into his 80s to stay in shape. If your idea of exercise is putting your kids to bed or walking home from the bus stop (or you just don’t have a consistent routine), this is really a good place to start, with clear instructions and fun RGB illustrations throughout. a hoodie and pink leggings getting the job done.
“Brave and Brilliant Women of RGB: 33 Women to Inspire All” by Nadine Epstein is a collaboration between Ginsburg and journalist Epstein, highlighting 33 Jewish women they thought everyone should know more about. Collective biographies like this can quickly get boring, but it’s cleverly crafted and does a great job of making connections between these women’s lives and the present. If she’s looking for a book to give away at a bar/bat mitzvah, this is an excellent choice.
added bonus: rbg biography bingo
Over the course of reading so many books on rbg, I kept coming across some fun facts that all the authors seemed to think readers would find interesting. to be fair, I found most of them interesting! after a while i made a bingo card with my favorites and tried to win the game with each book. You can also play Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biography Bingo!
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