Books Celebrating Women
In celebration of the International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, here are some of our favorite children’s books and art books that celebrate women.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Mae's curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.
Create, inspire, persist, change the world . . . like a girl! This book celebrates international girl power across a multitude of women who made a difference. From civil rights activist Rosa Parks to astronaut Sally Ride, the 24 women highlighted in these pages took risks, acted up, broke barriers, and transformed the world.
This book celebrates Judy Chicago’s feminist masterpiece, The Dinner Party installation at the Brooklyn Museum. The Dinner Party, a triangular table represents 1,038 women in history—39 by unique large ceramic plates and runners with another 999 names inscribed on the floor’s ceramic tiles.
Ada Twist's head is full of questions. Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don't go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.
Featuring eighteen women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists, this board book adaptation of Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World introduces trailblazing women like Mary Blair, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, and architect Zaha Hadid.
The twenty groundbreaking women--including Rosalind Franklin, Shirley Anne Jackson, and more--came from all kinds of backgrounds with all kinds of experiences. Some grew up rich. Some grew up poor. Some were always the smartest kid in class. Some struggled to do well in school. All had one thing in common: They were born curious.
This collection is by Susan Wood, one of the earliest and most successful professional photographers to break into a world long dominated by men. Celebrating the movers, shakers, and groundbreakers from the 60’s into the beginning of the 21st century, the book is a stunning representation of the change women make in the world.
When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, most girls did not attend school; no one considered them as smart as boys. Giving her a name meaning "Courageous Hero," her parents felt differently and encouraged her love of learning. Her biography follows her battle with sexism and racism to become the "Queen of Physics" for her work on beta decay.
Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were really good at math. They participated in some of NASA's greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America's first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do.
Ellen Prentiss's father said she was born with saltwater in her veins. He gave her sailing lessons and taught her how to navigate. This book follows Ellen on a maiden voyage: out of New York City, down around the tip of Cape Horn, and into San Francisco, where the Gold Rush was well underway.
Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie's gizmos would astound--if she ever let anyone see them.
One of the world's most inspiring women, Dr. Jane Goodall is a renowned humanitarian, conservationist, animal activist, environmentalist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace. Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee.
From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is how she not only calculated the course of moon landings, saved lives when she helped make sure Apollo 13 returned safely home, but also made enormous contributions to history.
Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, and dreamed of designing her own cities. After studying architecture in London, she opened her own studio and started designing buildings. But as a Muslim woman, Hadid faced many obstacles. Determined to succeed, she worked hard for many years, and achieved her goals.
Every evening, from the time she was a child, Maria Mitchell stood on her rooftop with her telescope and swept the sky. One night she saw something unusual--a comet no one had ever seen before! Her extraordinary discovery made her famous the world over and paved the way for her to become America's first professional female astronomer.