When it comes to women’s empowerment, sometimes you just need a role model to inspire your own, or your children’s, path to follow.
March is Women’s History Month and National Reading Month, which means it’s the perfect time to snuggle up with your little one and read books about the achievements and contributions of women in music, politics, science and more. By learning about these successes, you will find it easier to visualize your own.
You are reading: Women’s history month children’s books
yes, more work needs to be done. there is still a gender gap in stem, the equal rights amendment has not been ratified, and congress is overwhelmingly lopsided (only 27 percent are women). however, there are still plenty of hits to celebrate and read about. We’ve come a long way, and from a young age, it’s nice to recognize women who broke boundaries and made history, like NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who calculated how to send the first American into space, and Emily Roebling, who helped build the brooklyn bridge.
here are 13 children’s books that will inspire young readers, no matter their age, to advocate for themselves, stand up for women’s rights, and follow their dreams, whether it’s a pair of ballet shoes , a calculator or a seat. in the supreme court.
A Computer Named Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon (Ages 4-8)
by suzanne slade, illustrated by veronica miller jamison
As this biographical picture book demonstrates, Katherine Johnson was an intelligent and determined young woman. she skipped first and fifth grade and started college at just 15 years old. she also defied gender norms when she quit her teaching job and started working as a mathematician at a research center in virginia. She eventually made history when she helped Alan Shepard fly into space, John Glenn orbit the Earth, and Neil Armstrong become the first man to land on the moon. Johnson’s story is a prime example of what girls can achieve when encouraged by their teachers and family members to pursue their passions, and this book is a must-read for all future mathematicians who like to ask questions and find answers.
a is for incredible!: 23 iconic women who changed the world (1 to 3 years)
by eva chen, illustrated by derek desert
teach your toddler the alphabet and women’s history at the same time with eva chen’s book, a is great! (Yes, B is for Beyoncé.) For each letter of the alphabet, your child will learn about a female powerhouse, like track star Lazy, education activist Malala Yousafzai, or extraordinary beauty Pat McGrath. At x, y, and z, you can also expect to read an uplifting message aimed squarely at your own future pioneer.
brave dancer: the story of janet collins (4 – 8 years)
by michelle meadows, illustrated by ebony glenn
Thanks to four-line rhyming verses, you’ll fall into a catchy rhythm as you read and flip through this book and learn about the life of Janet Collins, the first African-American prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. Readers young and old alike will be inspired by Collins’ commitment and perseverance in the face of obstacles, like ballet schools not accepting black students or the time she was told to lighten her skin.
gloria takes a stand: how gloria steinem listened, wrote, and changed the world (ages 4-8)
See Also: How to sell used books online – Save the Student
by jessica m. rinker, illustrated by daria peoples-riley
before founding ms. With her friend Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Gloria Steinem was learning about government, traveling to India, and soon writing stories for magazines and newspapers. Over and over, she was told what to do (get married) and who to be (teacher), but she finally challenged the status quo and set her own path, one that will inspire many girls today.
I’m sonia sotomayor (5 – 8 years old)
by brad meltzer, illustrated by christopher eliopoulos
As part of the Everyday People Change the World series, this comic book tells the story of how sonia sotomayor, a vivacious girl from the bronx, dreamed of becoming a detective, enrolled at princeton and then law school. law from yale, became an assistant district attorney and then a u.s. district court judge and ultimately made history as the third woman and first Hispanic female justice on the united states supreme court. Her journey story is enriched with life lessons, Puerto Rican culture, and interesting family moments and traditions, like when her grandmother recited empowering Puerto Rican poems when she was young.
little dreamers: visionary women from around the world (8 – 12 years old)
by vashti harrison
American musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chinese physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, and Indian writer and activist Mahasweta Devi are just a few of the extraordinary women featured in Vashti Harrison’s book, Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World. In addition to the 36 detailed one-page profiles, Harrison concludes the book with a shorter secondary list of role models that young readers can investigate on their own if they spark an interest.
secret engineer: how emily roebling built the brooklyn bridge (ages 5 – 9)
by rachel dougherty
When the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, not many people knew it was built by a woman named Emily Roebling. But this book gives credit where it belongs, telling the story of how Roebling took over construction when her husband, the chief engineer, fell ill. she studied bridge engineering and crossed the finished bridge with a rooster in her lap when people said the bridge was not strong enough. Simplified graphics accompany the story, explaining how the fourteen-year project came to be.
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World (ages 4-8)
by chelsea clinton, illustrated by alexandra boiger
inspired by sen. elizabeth warren viral “she persisted” moment, chelsea clinton shares stories about 13 american women who changed the world. Like Warren, each of them decided to press on despite the challenges, whether that meant staging walkouts, refusing to give up a seat on the bus, or going to an all-white elementary school in the South.
voice of freedom: fannie lou hamer: the spirit of the civil rights movement (10 years)
See Also: Order HMH Science Student Edition Grade 4, ISBN: 9781328868626 | HMH
by carole boston weatherford, illustrated by ekua holmes
Through poems and collage illustrations, you’ll learn about Fannie Lou Hamer, whom Minister Malcolm X called “the number one female freedom fighter in the country.” You will read about her life as a slave in Mississippi, her speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention calling for better representation of Black people in the Democratic Party (much to the dismay of President Lyndon B. Johnson), and her efforts to march alongside Martin Luther. king son. and register new black voters, despite the risk of police beatings.
what is the women’s rights movement? (8 – 12 years old)
by deborah hopkinson, illustrated by laurie a.
This book is an introduction to women’s rights for young readers. It begins with the story of how Abigail Adams wrote to her husband about the possibility of a female-led rebellion. The book then goes on to cover the moment Susan B. Anthony broke the law by voting, as well as recent events, such as the creation of Title IX, which, among other things, allows high school girls to join sports teams. it is digestible and interesting, perfect for a high school reader.
Shaking things up: 14 young women who changed the world (4 – 8 years old)
by susan hood
susan hood is shaking things up: 14 young women who changed the world is an artistic chronology of leading women, spanning the late 18th century to 2014. each of the 14 biographies, written as poems with accompanying brief summaries in the bottom, is paired with her own illustrator, making the story a thematically and visually diverse experience. Stories include investigative journalist Nellie Bly, black astronaut Mae Jemison, and even Molly Williams, America’s first known female firefighter.
sowing stories: the life of the librarian and narrator pura belpré (4 – 8 years)
by anika aldamuy denise, illustrated by paola escobar
In Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré, Anika Denise Aldamuy highlights the life and legacy of the New York City Public Library’s first Puerto Rican librarian. A bilingual librarian, author, and puppeteer, Pura Belpré moved to New York in 1920 and left a lasting mark on the diverse communities of children and families who frequented the city’s libraries. Featuring stunning illustrations by Paola Escobar, the book is ideal for younger readers, New York City residents, and those interested in learning more about a woman who quietly made history.
rad women worldwide, american rad women a-z and rad girls can (ages 10 and up)
by kate schatz, illustrated by miriam klein stahl
kate schatz’s rad women series is a trilogy of visually captivating and historically rich profiles on history-making (and just plain cool) women and girls known and unknown around the world. At Rad Women Worldwide, readers meet dozens of women, girls, and feminist coalitions throughout the centuries of history: You’ll find household names like Venus and Serena Williams alongside icons of older women, like the Mesopotamian princess and the first known female author. of the world enheduanna . rad american women a-z is a brilliantly illustrated compendium of famous american women. In the latest installment, Rad Girls Can: Stories of Bold, Brave and Brilliant Young Women, Schatz focuses on young changemakers past and present, such as dancer Misty Copeland, author Mary Shelley and youth activist Marley Dias. the trilogy is best suited for children ages 10 and up or those reading near high school level.
update: Mar. 21, 2022, 13:00 edt This article was originally published in March 2019. It has been updated with additional books for young readers and will be republished in March 2022. Additional reporting by Chase Dibenedetto.
See Also: The Ultimate List of the Best Picture Books, Endorsed by Kids Parents