Book Lists

Celebrate Women Who Shape Our World

Books for Women's History Month and Beyond

Women’s History Month is celebrated every March, but it’s always the right time to uplift books about women and girls making their mark on history. Keep reading to explore our extensive title list featuring incredible women who continue to shape our world with their contributions to science, art, activism, sports, government, and more.

Click “Learn More” for additional information and available resources associated with the corresponding title.

Featured Titles for All Ages

Featured Picture Books

Areli Is a Dreamer

Areli Is a Dreamer

Areli Morales

In the first picture book written by a DACA Dreamer, Areli Morales tells her own powerful and vibrant immigration story.

Harlem's Little Blackbird

Harlem's Little Blackbird

Renée Watson

From Caldecott Honor winner Christian Robinson and acclaimed author Renee Watson, comes the inspiring true story of Florence Mills.

I Am My Name

I Am My Name

Na'kuset, Judith Henderson

An evocative autobiographical picture book about Cree activist Na’kuset’s life as a young girl taken from her home along with thousands of other indigenous children during the 1960s, and the journey of discovery that leads her to reclaim her life and culture.

Only Passing Through

Only Passing Through

Anne Rockwell

A powerful picture book biography of one of the abolitionist movement’s most compelling voices, Sojourner Truth.

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

A picture book biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the woman who invented rock and roll.

The Water Lady

The Water Lady

Alice B. McGinty

This inspiring picture book tells the true story of a woman who brings desperately needed water to families on the Navajo reservation every day.

Featured Books for Emerging Readers

Anne Frank (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)

Anne Frank (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)

Alexandra Zapruder, National Geographic Kids

Anne Frank is one of the first of many National Geographic Readers that highlight important historical figures. Young readers will learn about the brave and tragic life of the young girl whose diary kept while in hiding from Nazis is one of the most important and insightful books of the World War II era.

Jane Goodall (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1)

Jane Goodall (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1)

Barbara Kramer, National Geographic Kids

Get to know famous primate scientist Jane Goodall—including her life with chimpanzees, her groundbreaking contributions to animal science, and beyond—in this charming Level 1 reader perfect for kids beginning to read on their own.

Kamala Harris Is Speaking

Kamala Harris Is Speaking

Shasta Clinch

Young children will be excited to learn about the first Black, South Asian, female Vice President, Kamala Harris, and her inspiring journey in this Step 2 Biography Reader, perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Mia the Masterpiece

Mia the Masterpiece

Mia Armstrong

Actress Mia Armstrong shares her story about living a rich, colorful life with Down syndrome, now in a Step 2 leveled reader! Perfect for readers who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Muzoon: From Refugee to Leader

Muzoon: From Refugee to Leader

Muzoon Almellehan

Discover the life of Muzoon Almellehan, from Syrian refugee to advocate, perfect for newly independent readers, in this Step 4 Biography Reader.

Sonia Sotomayor (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)

Sonia Sotomayor (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 3)

Barbara Kramer, National Geographic Kids

Explore one of the most recognized names in modern America with this biography of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Kids will learn about her rise to be the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and the trials she faced along the way.

The First Woman Cherokee Chief: Wilma Pearl Mankiller

The First Woman Cherokee Chief: Wilma Pearl Mankiller

Patricia Morris Buckley

Find out all about Wilma Pearl Mankiller, the first woman Cherokee chief whose image appears on the U.S. quarter, in this Step 3 Biography Reader.

In 1985, Wilma Pearl Mankiller became the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She had to convince her people that the chief should be the best person for the job, man or woman.

Featured Middle Grade

Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers

Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s worldwide bestselling memoir, Becoming, has been adapted for young readers.

Brave. Black. First.

Brave. Black. First.

Cheryl Willis Hudson

Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, discover over 50 remarkable Black women whose unique skills and contributions paved the way for the next generation of young people.

Fearless. Bold. Game changers.

History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials

History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials

Kate Messner

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about the Salem Witch Trials in the hit History Smashers nonfiction series. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales.

RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women

RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women

Nadine Epstein

This collection of biographies of brave and brilliant Jewish female role models–selected in collaboration with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and including an introduction written by the iconic Supreme Court justice herself– provides young people with a roster of inspirational role models, all of whom are Jewish women, who will appeal not only to young people but to people of all ages, and all faiths.

The Lost Women of Science

The Lost Women of Science

Melina Gerosa Bellows, Katie Hafner

From the popular Lost Women of Science podcast, comes an empowering collection that recognizes ten trailblazing female scientists whose lives and works have been lost to history…until now. Uncover the truth behind some of the world’s greatest accomplishments—and the women who made it happen.

Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

Anna Hays

Discover the amazing illustrated stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, achieved global fame, and then simply…disappeared.

Featured Young Adult

Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults)

Coming Home (Adapted for Young Adults)

Brittney Griner, Michelle Burford

From basketball icon Brittney Griner comes a captivating memoir about her journey from early athletic stardom to her page-turning account of how she persevered in a Russian prison—now adapted for young adults.

Eve (Adapted for Young Adults)

Eve (Adapted for Young Adults)

Cat Bohannon

The groundbreaking New York Times bestseller is now adapted for young adults!  This is the 200-million-year story of how the female body gave rise to the human species and forever shaped life on Earth and what that means for us in the future.

Hick

Hick

Sarah Miller

In this riveting YA non-fiction set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, trace Lorena Hickok–or Hick’s– rise from devastating childhood to renowned journalist, and watch as she forms the most significant friendship and romantic relationship of her life with first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.

Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults)

Lovely One (Adapted for Young Adults)

Ketanji Brown Jackson

The New York Times bestselling memoir now adapted for young adults! Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, chronicles her life story and her extraordinary path to becoming a jurist on America’s highest court in this inspiring, intimate memoir.

The Swans of Harlem (Adapted for Young Adults)

The Swans of Harlem (Adapted for Young Adults)

Karen Valby

Meet five amazing Black ballerinas from The Dance Theater of Harlem, including some of the founding members. They broke barriers and made history in the world of classical dance, at a time when racism shut out Black dancers from major dance companies.

Discover even  more great books for Women’s History Month and all year long!

Board Books

I Look Up To... Malala Yousafzai

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

I Look Up To... Michelle Obama

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

I Look Up To...Misty Copeland

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

I Look Up To...Oprah Winfrey

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

I Look Up To... Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

I Look Up To... Serena Williams

Anna Membrino; illustrated by Fatti Burke

Picture Books

A Is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z

John Robert Allman; illustrated by Peter Emmerich

A Seat at the Table

Elisa Boxer; illustrated by Laura Freeman

All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson

Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Ashley Evans

Birdlore

Jess Keating; illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

Bold & Brave

Kirsten Gillibrand; illustrated by Maira Kalman

Cantora

Melisa Fernández Nitsche

Courage Like Kate

Anna Crowley Redding; illustrated by Emily Sutton

Good Books for Bad Children

Beth Kephart; illustrated by Chloe Bristol

Hillary

Jonah Winter; illustrated by Raul Colón

How to Hear the Universe

Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Sara Palacios

How to Solve a Problem

Ashima Shiraishi; illustrated by Yao Xiao

I Am a Masterpiece!

Mia Armstrong; illustrated by Alexandra Thompson

Indelible Ann

Meghan P. Browne; illustrated by Carlynn Whitt

J Is for Judy

John Robert Allman; illustrated by Peter Emmerich

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor

Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Felicita Sala

Lillian's Right to Vote

Jonah Winter; illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Madame Saqui

Lisa Robinson; illustrated by Rebecca Green

Margaret and the Moon

Dean Robbins; illustrated by Lucy Knisley

Me and the Sky

Beverley Bass with Cynthia Williams; illustrated by Joanie Stone

Miss Paul and the President

Dean Robbins; illustrated by Nancy Zhang

Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children

Jonah Winter; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson

Sue Stauffacher; Illustrated by Greg Couch

Rivka's Presents

Laurie Wallmark; illustrated by Adelina Lirius

Sisters in Science

Linda Elovitz Marshall; illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso

Sweet Justice

Mara Rockliff; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

The Bug Girl

by Sophia Spencer, the Bug Girl Herself, with Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Kerascoët

The Fastest Girl on Earth!

Dean Robbins; illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

The Girl Who Built an Ocean

Jess Keating; illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

The Girl Who Named Pluto

Alice B. McGinty; illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle

The Green Piano

Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden; illustrated by Hayden Goodman

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

Rita Lorraine Hubbard; illustrated by Oge Mora

The Watcher

Jeanette Winter; illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott

Joyce Scott with Brie Spangler and Melissa Sweet; illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Emerging Readers

Middle Grade

Young Adult

Girl Rising

Tanya Lee Stone, in association with Girl Rising

Girls Who Green the World

Diana Kapp; illustrated by Ana Jarén

Nevertheless, We Persisted

Foreword by Senator Amy Klobuchar

Yes She Can

Compiled by Molly Dillon

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