March is Women’s History Month and they are some amazing women to celebrate in books. In March we also celebrate International Women’s Day. So, let’s dive into these books for kids featuring women both past and present.
Picture Books About Women for Young Kids
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Collections of Different Women
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison gives a glimpse of 40 different amazing women who have impacted our lives. This is a neat one where you can read about a different woman each day throughout the month.
This book is also a featured title in our Family Dinner Book Club.
Chef Sarah Elizabeth shares a menu inspired by Balck women food bloggers.—>See the Menu
Activities provided by Sunny Day Family.—->See the Activities
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World is the first in a series of She Persisted books by Chelsea Clinton. In this book, we meet Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Clara Lemlich, and more women. Also check out, She Persisted Around the World and She Persisted In Sports.
The Little People, Big Dreams series highlights individuals including women in history including Jane Goodall , Aretha Franklin, and Mother Theresa.
Women in Science & Math
The Innovation Press has a great series by Julia Finley Mosca. Check out The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague, The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin, The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Patricia Bath, and The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating takes you deep into the sea to study those feared creatures-sharks. Well, Eugenie Clark wouldn’t say they needed to be feared.
I know lots of young girls who love bugs but feel like they shouldn’t because they are girls. Blow that out of the water, with this reaffirming book about Evelyn Cheesman in Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter by Christine Evans.
Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo’s First Woman Zookeeper by Candace Fleming introduces to a time when zookeepers took animals home to care for them.
How Emily Saved the Bridge by Frieda Wishinsky is the story of a smart and observant person who took over the building of the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband falls ill.
Women in the Arts
In Little Frida by Anthony Browne we learn a sliver about Frida Kahlo as a child. The back matter shares a bit more about her but this book is certainly just a jumping-off point to discovering more about her and her work.
Lois Ehlert is a well-known author and illustrator of books for kids. Encourage children to participate in artistic opportunities in Hands: Growing Up to Be an Artist by Lois Ehlert.
Drum Dream Girl is inspired by Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a young Cuban woman, who became the first woman drummer in her country. It used to be considered taboo to be a woman drummer in Cuba, but Millo Castro Zaldarriaga changed that through her courage and determination.
More Amazing Women
Send a Girl! : The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY by Jessica M. Rinker is the story of Brenda Berkman. She became the first woman firefighter in New York after a lot of work and determination. She faced many obstacles and lots of discrimination but, she persevered.
Girl on a Motorcycle by Amy Novesky is the story of the first woman who rode a motorcycle alone around the world. Each place on the journey was full of beauty, challenges, and learning.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy introduces us to the late Supreme Court Justice.
Read Around America to Win the Vote by Mara Rockliff to showcase the women’s suffrage movement. This is the story of two women who would not let anything keep them from spreading the word about equal voting rights for women. They braved all sorts of obstacles to further the cause.
Meet a very courageous woman in Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai. Malala believes that all girls have a right to an education and she continues to be brave and speak her mind.
Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome highlights a remarkable and courageous woman who was the voice, eyes, and helper of many.
One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul is the story of how a group of women took a problem of too much trash and turn into art that became a money maker.
Imagine loving trees so much that you climb up one and stay there for a very long time to make a point about the importance of saving them. That is just what happens in Luna & Me by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw.
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel is the story of an activist determined to fight for everyone to have a voice.
Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwik Created the Parachute Rip Cord by Candy Dahl introduces us to a courageous and quick-thinking woman who loved jumping from planes. Out of necessity, she is credited with creating the rip cord on a parachute.
Try It! : How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat by Mara Rockliff introduces us to a produce pioneer who helped to bring more than potatoes and carrots to the table. Instead of competing with the men for the basic veggies people were using to eating and buying, she pushed the boundaries and offered unique tastes from around the world.
Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine by Kate Hannigan is the story of the first dishwasher that helped clean all those dishes. The idea took awhile to check on, but I’m sure glad that it did.
More Resources
My friend, Erica from What Do We Do All Day, also has some amazing booklists featuring women. Try her list of picture books about female scientists and picture books of women performers.
Adventures-In-A-Box also has some very neat paper dolls with reading cards of famous women.
Printable Book List of Books About Women
Grab a printable list of the books above along with some conversation starters.
Enjoy learning about women and their contributions to our world with students.
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