In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve selected titles focusing on the lives of women and girls throughout the past and into the present day. We hope these selections serve to educate and encourage a dialogue on topics of women’s history, rights, and stories.
Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli
This illustrated anthology introducing readers to the real-life adventures of trailblazing women from Elizabeth I to Malala Yousafzai. The unique narrative style of this book transforms each biography into a fairytale, filling readers with wonder and a burning curiosity to know more about each hero. Each woman’s story is accompanied by a full-page, full-color portrait that captures her rebel spirit. This is the first book in this series of anthologies.
Available formats: Book, eBook (Overdrive Media on Demand)
Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! by Marley Dias
Marley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true. In this accessible guide with an introduction by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good. Drawing from her experience, Marley shows kids how they can galvanize their strengths to make positive changes in their communities, while getting support from parents, teachers, and friends to turn dreams into reality. Focusing on the importance of literacy and diversity, Marley offers suggestions on book selection, and delivers hands-on strategies for becoming a lifelong reader.
Available formats: Book, Audiobook (Hoopla)
She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton
Throughout United States history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.
Available formats: Book
Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
This collection of biographies features: Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and sparked a boycott that changed America, Harriet Tubman helped more than three hundred slaves escape the South on the Underground Railroad, and Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The lives these women led are part of an incredible story about courage in the face of oppression; about the challenges and triumphs of the battle for civil rights; and about speaking out for what you believe in even when it feels like no one is listening.
Available formats: Book
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson shares her experience growing up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s facing remnants of the Jim Crow Laws and a growing Civil Rights Movement. Her reflections are told in verse, and capture her self-discovery as she finds her own voice.
Available formats: Book, eBook (Overdrive Media on Demand), Audiobook (Overdrive Media on Demand)
Women in Art : 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World by Rachel Ignotofsk
This collection of biographies highlights the achievements and stories of 50 notable women in the arts, from well-known figures like painters Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe, to lesser-known names like 19th-century African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo. Covering a wide array of artistic mediums, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about artistic movements throughout history, statistics about women’s representation in museums, and notable works by women. This book celebrates the success of the bold female creators who inspired the world and paved the way for the next generation of artists.
Available formats: Book
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
In 1942, with the Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, the Franks and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and surprisingly humorous, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
Available formats: Book
I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai
This autobiography by Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai reveals the struggles that still exist for girls to receive an education and the prices some pay to stand up for what they believe in. When Malala spoke out against the regime limiting this accessibility, it almost cost her her life. The book details her recovery from the terrorist attack as well as how family and the power of perseverance can change the world.
Available formats: Book
Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
This collection highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes from the 1800s to today, including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than forty sports. The athletes featured include well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, as well as lesser-known champions like Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a professional men’s league, and skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee. This book is a celebration of the success of the tough, bold, and fearless women who paved the way for today’s athletes.
Available formats: Book
I Got This: To Gold and Beyond by Laurie Hernandez
In this autobiography, sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team and becoming the youngest winner on the show Dancing with the Stars. Poignant and funny, Laurie’s story is about growing up with the dream of becoming an Olympian and what it took to win gold. She talks about her loving family, her rigorous training, her intense sacrifices, and her amazing triumphs. Be prepared to fall in love with and be mesmerized by America’s newest sweetheart all over again.
Available formats: Book
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women who Changed the World by Susan Hood
In this book of poems, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six year old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create. Those are just a few of the young women included in this book
Available formats: Book
Who is Gloria Steinem? by Sarah Fabiny
As a field reporter in the 1960s, Gloria Steinem worked hard to dig up important stories. She went undercover to expose the grim realities of gender inequality in America. As her message continued to grow, she became the spokeswoman of the women’s liberation movement and created the feminist publication, Ms. magazine. Steinem continues to speak and write about women and women’s roles in media and politics. This biography is one of many included in the Who is…? series.
Available formats: Book, eBook (Overdrive Media on Demand)
We love helping people find books, movies, and more.
Tell us about your preferences, and our librarians will create a list of titles selected specifically for you.
