Teach your boys and girls about the women who have paved the way for them in history. With these books, you can celebrate young dreamers and the qualities that make them great leaders, encouraging your little ones to reach for the stars. Happy Women’s History Month!
Board Books
“I Look Up to Michelle Obama” by Anna Membrino, illustrated by Fatti Burke
What makes Michelle Obama a great role model? She not only works hard, but she also knows how to have fun! With bold images and short quotes to support four featured traits, this book provides young readers with positive vocabulary and character traits for growing.
“Baby Botanist” by Dr. Laura Gehl, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
Part of the Baby Scientist series, this vibrant board book introduces concepts of how plants grow with simple, appealing text (“Even chocolate comes from plants!”) and fun illustrations featuring a bow-bedecked baby and a curious snail as they explore the natural world.
Picture Books
“Crane Jane” by Andrea Zimmerman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Experience the world of a crane driver as she expertly moves a load of heavy trucks from the cargo ship to the dock, even as the wild winds blow. A great read-aloud, Zimmerman’s book uses rhythmic, rhyming text and lots of dramatic sound words (TROMP! THUMP! CLANG! EEEEK!) to engage readers in Jane’s challenging work.
“Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenia Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist” by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Eugenia Clark dared to study sharks, despite their fearsome reputation. This beautiful biography explores her incredible life and accomplishments, which demonstrated not only that sharks should be admired rather than feared, but also that women could successfully undertake any task, no matter how adventurous.
Elementary Books
“Princess Pulverizer: Grilled Cheese and Dragons #1” by Nancy Krulik
Princess Pulverizer is not your average princess, and she certainly doesn’t
need to be rescued. In fact, she intends to be a knight. As she embarks on her first quest, Princess Pulverizer demonstrates cleverness, bravery and plenty of confidence in dealing with ogres and dragons. First chapter book readers will devour this hilarious and adventure-filled series sprinkled with lively illustrations.
“The A-Z of Wonder Women” by Yvonne Lin
Discover an entire alphabet of amazing women, from Ada, Ace of Algorithms, to Zaha, Zestfully Zany Architect, in this inspiring collection of biographical vignettes. Each letter introduces its heroine in a perfect, concise package: a catchy alliterative name, a brief description of her claim to fame, an illustration and a quote. Readers will love meeting this gallery of changemakers!
Middle Grade Books
“Molly and the Twin Towers: A 9/11 Survival Story” by Jessica Fleck, illustrated by Jane Pica
When the twin towers fall on September 11, 2001, blocks from her school, middle schooler Molly, unable to reach her dads or Gran, must find her 7-year-old sister, Adi, and get her home safely. The book includes an author’s note, glossary and discussion questions.
“Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers” by Juliet Menéndez
Celebrating women from all over Central and South America, in addition to Puerto Rico, “Latinitas” spans the 17th century to the present. Some women in this book were activists, writers, singers and more. Their common ground in each compelling story? Strength.
Teen Books
“Watch Us Rise” by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission to see the women at their New York City
high school treated better. So, they start a Women’s Rights Club, which shares online poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry and Jasmine’s response to the racial microaggressions she experiences—and soon, they go viral. Unwilling to
be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices—and those of other young women—to be heard.
“Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights”
by Mikki Kendall
This insightful graphic novel illuminates the stories of notable women throughout history and the progressive movements led by women that have shaped history, including abolition, suffrage, labor, civil rights, LGBTQ liberation, reproductive rights and more.
