Reading is a great way for kids to learn about important women in history! For Women’s History Month, we stacked together all our books about inspiring women and picked out a few of our favorites that pair with the heroic women shirts in our collection to highlight here:
The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps, by Jeanette Winter.
A gorgeous picture book biography perfect for young animal lovers and learning about Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research.
Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Journey to Justice, by Debbie Levy.
This biographical graphic novel follows the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg from shy little girl to Supreme Court justice, and her commitment to fighting for equal treatment of girls and women in society and the workplace.
I Am Frida Kahlo, by Brad Meltzer.
The newest addition to the Ordinary People Change the World series tells the story of Mexican painter and activist Frida Kahlo. We really like how Meltzer focuses on the traits that made Frida, and all the heroes in the series, great and inspires kids to live heroically too!
I Am Marie Curie, by Brad Meltzer.
This accessible illustrated book tells the story of Marie Curie from childhood to Nobel Peace Prize winner. Curie never let obstacles quelch her love for learning and for science.
Work It, Girl: Mae Jemison: Blast off into space, by Caroline Moss
From the empowering Work It, Girl series, this book, geared toward kids ages 8-12 years old, tells the story of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. At the end of the book, there’s a great extension section, “10 key lessons from Mae’s life” to apply her lesson to kids’ own lives.
Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou, by Bethany Hegedus.
This beautiful picture-book biography of Maya Angelou describes how she rose above a childhood of trauma and pain to become one of the most inspiring poets and writers of all time.
Wilma Rudolph (Little People, Big Dreams), by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara.
From the Little People, Big Dreams series, this book tells the story of Wilma Rudolph, a remarkable American sprinter who overcame immense obstacles to becomes the fastest woman in the world.
Rosa Parks: My Story, by Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins.
While Rosa Parks is best known for the day she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott, there is much more to her story. Geared for ages 10+, kids learn from Rosa Parks’ own words about the civil rights movement and her involvement in it.
The Story of Amelia Earhart: A Biography for New Readers, by Stacia Deutsch.
In this biography, kids learn about Amelia Earhart, from adventure-loving kid who wasn’t afraid to be different, to American hero and celebrated pilot.
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa, by Andrea Davis Pinkney.
In this picture book about Ella Fitzgerald, the story is narrated by Scat Cat Monroe, a fictional cat who takes the reader through the major events of her life using engaging, rhythmic text.
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice, by Nikki Grimes.
The beautifully illustrated book follows the life of our current Vice President, Kamala Harris, who discovered early on that she wanted to use her voice and leadership skills to fight for justice.
Life in the Ocean, The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle, by Claire A. Nivola.
This picture book biography tells the story of how Syvia’s childhood curiosity grew into a passion to explore and protect “the blue heart of the planet.”
Marching with Aunt Susan: Susan B. Anthony and the Fight for Women’s Suffrage, by Claire Rudolph Murphy.
This book is inspired by the diary of Bessie Keith Pond, a 10 year old girl who couldn't understand why there were different rules for girls. After Bessie attended a suffrage rally by Susan B. Anthony, she got involved in the women’s rights movement.
Kids can learn about more trailblazing women in Rachel Ignotogsky’s inspiring and beautifully illustrated books: Women in Science, Women in Art, and Women in Sports. Each book features the stories of 50 women who broke gender barriers and made significant contributions to history.
