Even if we haven’t yet taken hold of the White House, women have come a long way toward equality in the past century. As much as we want our little feminist men and women to see all people as equal, it’s also our job to teach them about the trailblazers that got us to this point. Since March is Women’s History Month, now is the perfect opportunity to start the conversation — and then continue it for the rest of the year and beyond — with the help of books that are simultaneously informative and engaging.
Not that there’s ever a wrong time to teach your kids about all the badass women who have changed the world throughout history. The real struggle is narrowing down the book list, so we’ve put together a starter pack for you — because you’ll want to pay equal attention to centuries-old icons like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the lesser-known (but just as important) game-changers like Jazz Jennings or modern marvels like the Notorious RBG.
We know how hard it is to find the right books to catch our kids’ eyes and hearts. When all they want to do is read the same rhyming book they heard last night, or read a new graphic novel, can you really get them to absorb the nonfiction stories of women who fought for our right to vote, the girls who stood up for their right to an education, the scientists and mathematicians who pursued their research despite all the men who told them they couldn’t? Yes, provided you’ve chosen the right books for the job. We think this list, which includes everything from picture books to young-adult nonfiction, is a good place to start.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
A version of this story was originally published in March 2018.
‘She Persisted’ and ‘She Persisted Around the World,’ by Chelsea Clinton
In case you need a reminder of 2017 history, the titles of these books come from the incident on the Senate floor when Senate Majority Mitch McConnell complained that Senator Elizabeth Warren kept speaking out against Jeff Sessions, during his nomination hearing to become attorney general. But these books written by Chelsea Clinton and beautifully illustrated by Alexandra Boiger go a little further back in history to highlight notable women. She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World gives kids a brief look at the accomplishments of American women like Harriet Tubman, Native American ballerina Maria Tallchief, civil rights activist Claudette Colvin, Oprah Winfrey and more. She Persisted Around the World does the same for women from beyond our borders, from Marie Curie to Malala Yousafzai.
For a double dose of women’s history fun, you can buy both books in a box set.
She Persisted and She Persisted Around the World are for ages 4 to 8 years old.
‘Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World,’ by Vashti Harrison
Vashti Harrison’s art alone is enough to draw readers (both “little” and big) into her books — she’s an illustrator for other authors too — but she also really put in an effort to make this collection of notable women that we haven’t read about anywhere else. When reading the biographies of women like Fatima Al-Fihri, a ninth century Moroccan educational philanthropist, or 20th century Chinese-American physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, it’s almost inconceivable to think that we live in a society that often still doubts that women can do everything men can.
Little Dreamers is aimed at readers ages 8-12.
‘Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln,’ by Margarita Engle
Venezuela-born musician Teresa Carreño emigrated from Caracas to the United States in 1863, leaving one war-torn country for another. Amid such scary surroundings the 10-year-old girl became a world-famous piano prodigy, even, as the book’s title suggests, playing for President Abraham Lincoln. Accompanying this incredible true story are the captivating illustrations of Rafael Lopez, who won the Pura Belpré Illustrated Award in 2020 for this book.
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is meant for readers ages 4 to 8 years old.
‘Elizabeth Leads The Way,’ Written by Tanya Lee Stone, Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
In just 32 pages, Stone successfully describes Stanton’s journey from the “strong-spirited, rule-breaking” girl who questioned authority figures at school to her tireless work as a suffragette. It also touches on her early work in the abolitionist movement.
Stanton and her fellow suffragettes fought tirelessly for our right to vote — and it’s never too early to teach kids the importance of exercising this right in every single election, both national and local.
Elizabeth Leads the Way is aimed at kids ages 6 and up.
‘Brave Girl,’ Written by Michelle Markel, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
When Clara Lemlich emigrated from Ukraine to America, she was instantly put to work at a textile factory. Despite a grueling schedule of 11-hour shifts six days a week, Lemlich managed to attend night school.
In 1909, the 23-year-old organized the largest walkout of women workers in American history. Now, over a century later, U.S. immigrants are still being widely mistreated. Brave Girl is especially timely because it addresses the still-too-common exploitation of immigrant workers who came to America seeking a better life for themselves and their families. A great opportunity for you to teach your kids that immigrants make America great — and while you’re at it, you can explain that no human is “illegal” too.
Brave Girl is aimed at kids ages 4 and up.
‘I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark,’ Written by Debbie Levy, Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
It’s never too early to teach your kids about the Notorious RBG. We still live in a world where girls and women are expected to go along with the status quo. I Dissent places a strong focus on the value of expressing disagreement when we witness inequality and unfair treatment.
Levy’s picture book will inspire young girls to stand up for themselves and others — and teach them that disagreement doesn’t make them unpleasant or rude; it makes them strong and principled.
I Dissent is aimed at kids ages 4 and up.
‘Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx,’ Written by Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez
Sonia Sotomayor grew up in poverty in the Bronx. Her father died when she was 9 years old, and she suffered from juvenile diabetes. But thanks to unwavering determination, intellectual curiosity, a strong work ethic and a mother who believed in her, Sotomayor earned not one but two Ivy League degrees. In 2009, she became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice.
Winter’s book is bilingual, and Rodriguez’s illustrations are the perfect addition to its overarching theme of Sotomayor’s ability to blossom despite being dealt a difficult hand.
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx is aimed at kids 4 and up.
‘Let It Shine,’ Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Pinkney highlights 10 black women who made invaluable contributions to abolition, women’s rights and civil rights. The book includes well-known heroes such as Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth — but it also serves to educate children about equally important women they’re less likely to learn about in school. For example, Fannie Lou Hamer was a tireless activist for equal voting rights, while Ella Baker was one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement; she wasn’t afraid to call out the movement’s sexist and classist aspects.
Let It Shine is aimed at kids 6 and up.
‘Ladies of Liberty,’ Written by Cokie Roberts, Illustrated by Diane Goode
Who better than the late broadcaster and feminist icon Cokie Roberts to write a children’s book about the women who shaped our country? Roberts highlights 10 female heros who made incredible, lasting contributions to American history between the years of 1776 and 1824.
The trailblazers featured in Ladies of Liberty include explorer Sacagawea, poet Lucy Terry Prince, writer and women’s rights activist Judith Sargent Murray and philanthropist Isabella Graham, who used her wealth to open schools for girls and found societies for widows and orphans.
Ladies of Liberty is aimed at kids 6 and up.
‘Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You,’ Written by Marley Dias
She’s only 13, but Marley Dias’ résumé is more impressive than mine, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. In sixth grade, she launched the wildly successful #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign. Dias has kept busy since then — she partnered with the Obama White House to launch a national literacy tour, and she was an editor in residence at Elle.com.
Dias’ accessible, humble writing style is the ideal way to get kids excited about activism. She offers tips and strategies for preteens and teens who want to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Marley Dias Gets It Done is aimed at kids 10 and up.
‘I Am Malala,’ Written by Malala Yousafzai With Christina Lamb
On Oct. 9, 2012, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban on her way home from school. Five years later, she attended her first lecture at Oxford University.
As the Nobel Peace Prize winner writes, “If one man can destroy everything, why can’t one girl change it?” That’s exactly what Yousafzai did, and her memoir will inspire others to stand up for what they believe in and create the changes they wish to see in their communities and the world.
The Young Readers Edition of I Am Malala is aimed at kids 10 and up.
‘Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen,’ Written by Jazz Jennings
Trans activist Jazz Jennings transitioned when she was 5. With the support of her parents, she became an activist — speaking out about her journey — at the tender age of 6.
Now in her teens, Jennings eloquently writes about what it’s like to grow up as a young trans woman in an era when bullying and discrimination against the trans community are alive and well. Books about trans girls and women are few and far between, and it’s crucial to include people like Jennings in any conversation about women’s rights.
Being Jazz is aimed at kids 12 and up.
‘A Woman in the House (and Senate),’ Written by Ilene Cooper
In 2018, a record number of women ran for office. Cooper provides a comprehensive history of the woman trailblazers in politics, beginning with Jeannette Rankin, who was elected to Congress in 1916 — four years before the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
In addition to covering all the historic firsts for women in politics, A Woman in the House (and Senate) brings readers to the 2018 election and highlights modern-day political icons, including Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. An updated version also highlights the newest batch of legislators, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
A Woman in the House (and Senate) is aimed at kids 12 and up.
Source: Read Full Article