March is Women’s History Month, and in celebration, I’ve gathered twelve of the best books honoring trailblazing women in the history of the United States.
Congress declared March 1987, as the first official Women’s History Month in order to honor the dynamic and vital role of women in American History. The month of March was chosen because of March 8 – International Women’s Day. In 1980 President Jimmy Carter created National Women’s History Week to extend the festivities of International Women’s Day, and from then on the celebration grew to a month. (Is National Women’s History Year next?)
Reading picture books with your preschooler is a wonderful way to introduce them to important women in history. Here are some of my family’s favorite books including the best and most interesting reads about women who have excelled, persevered, and proved groundbreaking in the arts, health, science, and education.
Women’s History Month Books for Preschoolers
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?
Written by Tanya Lee Stone
Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
My 3-year-old daughter says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up, which, obviously, I’m on board with! She got a toy doctor kit for Christmas and loves giving checkups to her little brother and parents. In this day and age, my daughter can be most anything she wants to be, but that wasn’t always the case. Who Says Women Can’t be Doctors? by Tanya Lee Stone is about Elizabeth Blackwell who was the first woman to receive a medical license in the United States. This book is fun, fast-paced, and easy to read.
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
Counting on Katherine tells the story of research mathematician Katherine Johnson and her extraordinary work with NASA. Katherine Johnson became a well-known name after the best-selling book and later award-winning movie, Hidden Figures, came out in 2016. At retirement, she said, “I loved going to work every single day.” This makes me hopeful that one day my kids will find a job that makes them happy every single day as well.
Slightly older kids grade school kids will enjoy Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
Written by Jess Keating
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
If your little one loves swimming, aquariums, and sea life then this is the book for them! Shark Lady was written by zoologist Jess Keating and is about marine biologist Eugenie Clark, her life, and love of sharks. This is a great tale of finding a career that you love and becoming anything you want to be. Fun fact, Clark was an avid diver for work and for fun, she completed her last dive at the ripe old age of 92!
Josephine
Written by Patricia Hruby Powell
Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker was written by Patricia Hruby Powell for which she won the Coretta Scott King Honor award given to “outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.”
It’s obvious that Powell did an incredible amount of research to prepare for this book, both about Josephine’s life and the times she lived in. Josephine is written in poetry-like prose, and fun to read out loud and listen to. You’ll want to learn how to dance the Charleston after reading!
If you liked reading about Josephine’s dazzling life, I also enjoyed the picture book Little People Big Dreams Josephine Baker. The Little People Big Dreams book series written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a collection of biographies targeted towards children ages 4-7. Another good pick is Little People Big Dreams Dolly Parton (we especially love Dolly because of her foundation providing free books to children, Imagination Library) although all the books in the series are worth a read.
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slave to Artist
Written by Barbara Herkert
Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Sewing Stories is about a young girl who went from slave to artist and how her spiritual designs became famous. Harriet Power’s quilts are now considered treasures in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, but at the time they were made, Harriet just loved to sew.
Ordinary People Change the World: I am Sacagawea
Written by Brad Meltzer
Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer is a wonderful picture book series about regular people who did amazing things. He was motivated to write the series because he wanted to find good role models for his children. You can find a more in-depth review of the series here. I recommend I Am Sacagawea, I Am Helen Keller, and I Am Rosa Parks to add to your Women’s History Month book list.
Me…Jane
Written & Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
Me…Jane was written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell, the author of the Mutts comic strip. His style is instantly recognizable and very well drawn. Me…Jane tells the story of famed primatologist Jane Goodall and her stuffed toy chimpanzee as a child, and how she grew up to do something she loved and was passionate about.
This list covers just a handful of the inspiring picture books about women in US history. For more ideas and recommendations check out the book lists on amightygirl.com. They specialize in books and toys for smart, strong, and courageous girls. I hope these books helped introduce your preschooler to some of the great women in US history. Thanks for reading!
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