March is Women's History Month. In celebration, we have made a list of inspiring books and podcasts featuring strong women.
Picture Books
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
This rhyming picture book follows a very curious girl named Ada who has the heart of a scientist. If you enjoy this book, it is the first in a series!
Bunheads by Misty Copeland
This is a book about ballerina Misty Copeland and her friends working hard to achieve their goals while encouraging one another.
Under My Hijab by Hena Khan
This book depicts different members of the narrator's family, discussing their personalities, hobbies, and jobs and showing them wearing different hijabs in public and then taking them off in private. It is an empowering story about how girls can do anything they like.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca
Told in rhyming prose, this book discusses Temple Grandin, an American scientist and inventor diagnosed with autism at a young age. This book depicts how Temple Grandin used her unique mind and visual thinking to help achieve her goals.
Oona in the Arctic by Kelly DiPucchio
In this fun picture book, Oona finds a baby beluga whale and goes on an adventure to help it return home to the arctic.
Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris
This is a beautiful and inspiring picture book dedicated to encouraging young girls to be ambitious and unapologetically themselves.
Islandborn by Junot Diaz
After a teacher asks her class to draw a picture of where they are from, Lola talks to her community to learn more about the island, its culture, and why people left. This colorful picture book is a beautiful discussion of community, identity, and memory.
The Truly Brave Princesses by Dolores Brown
This picture book empowers women and encourages us to see everyday people as special. It has amazing representation and discusses people on all walks of life.
Middle Grade
Ann Fights for Freedom: An Underground Railroad Survival Story by Nikki Shannon Smith
Gloria Takes a Stand: How Gloria Steinem Listened, Wrote, and Changed the World by Jessica M. Rinker
This illustrated book tells the story of Gloria Steinem's life, how she fought for equal rights, and how her work impacts today.
Someday is Now by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
This powerful book introduces Clara Luper, a teacher and Civil Rights activist who fought against segregation in the 1950s through methods including education and demonstration like sit-ins.
Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson
This graphic novel series follows a group of five friends - Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley - who are determined to have a great time at summer camp and they won't let magic quests or supernatural beasts get in the way.
Melissa by Alex Gino
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This book follows Ada, a beautifully courageous character who boards a train with her brother in an evacuation from WWII Germany. Ada had grown up abused by her Mam due to her untreated club foot, and in her escape to the country, she learns the healing powers of respect and love.
Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
This historic graphic novel has very few words. It tells its beautiful, empathy-building story mainly through pictures that use color as a powerful tool. The story follows Marisol, who has to leave her home in Cuba in 1961 for safety, as she builds a life in New York.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tola Okogwu
Follow Onyekachi, a British Nigerian Girl who learns that she is a Solari with special powers. This series follows Onyekachi as she attends a boarding school and learns about her powers.
Just Roll with It by Lee Durfey-Lavoie
This graphic novel follows Maggie, who a middle schooler with OCD who just joined her school's role-playing game club. Following Maggie and a great team of secondary characters, this book discusses friendship, family, and mental health.
Middle Grade Podcasts:
The Magic Sash
This podcasts is both a fun adventure story and an educational resource. The story follows two children who time travel learning about the history of women's rights and meeting historic figures like Susan B. Anthony.
She Sounds Like Me
This is an unscripted talk show hosted by a mother-daughter duo discussing a variety of complex topics from anxiety and friendship to systemic racism and body image.
Rebel Girls: Growing Up Powerful
Join Asha and Jestine in talking about important topics from managing money and handling emotions to learning languages and loving yourself. This podcast has sometimes features expert guests and includes themes of self compassion, empathy, and communication.
Parenting
Sexism & Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World by Jo-Ann Finkelstein, Ph.D.
In this book, Finkelstein uses a wealth of research to highlight the challenges young girls face, including misogyny, body image, sexual development, and more, and provide advice to parents to help navigate raising daughters, encouraging them to think for themselves and recognize their worth.
Parent Like It Matters: How to Raise Joyful, Change-Making Girls by Janice Johnson Dias, Ph.D.
Johnson Dias presents this four part book as a program for "raising self-realized girls," using research from psychologists and pediatricians along with her tips and guidance.
Anything But My Phone, Mom! : Raising Emotionally Resilient Daughters in the Digital Age by Roni Cohen-Sandler, PhD
Cohen-Sandler's research-based guide discusses how technology is transforming teens' experiences, helps teens develop skills and habits to handle challenges technology presents, and coaches readers through other relevant challenges such as dating, parental divorce, and college preparation.
I hope you found something on this list that sparks your interest. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or topics that you would like me to write about!
-Alyssa
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