5 Children’s book recommendations for women’s history month
By: Melina Farahmand
Founder & Owner of Past Present Future Co.
Author — From Dust to Breath: Finding Our Place in the Circle of Life
Available on Amazon.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” – Walt Disney
Reading to young children is unquestionably crucial for cognitive development and overall comprehension skills. Whether you're a parent/guardian, an older sibling, an educator, etc.…, getting young kids into reading from the start will ensure a good foundation in life. Healthline reports that reading helps improve brain function, increases vocabulary, reduces stress, and prevents cognitive decline as we age throughout life. I've always loved reading stories; I found that it would enrich my imagination and also helped me improve my language skills. In honor of Women's History Month, I've compiled a list of 5 picture books that are beautifully written and illustrated and empowering, especially for the tiny humans in our life. All of these books have been written by female authors and have compelling messages within them. I've gifted many of these books to my family members with young children, and they all enjoyed reading these stories; I'm sure you will too.
1. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o — a children's fiction picture book by actress Lupita Nyong'o. It follows the story of a young girl who wishes for her dark skin to be lighter. The story is ultimately about colorism and learning to love oneself, no matter one's skin tone.
2. Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris — Anyone who's ever been underestimated or overshadowed will find inspiration in this empowering new picture book from Meena Harris, New York Times-bestselling author of Kamala and Maya's Big Idea. When a young girl sees a strong woman on TV labeled as "too assertive" and "too ambitious," it sends her on a journey of discovery through past, present, and future about the challenges faced by women and girls and the ways in which they can reframe, redefine, and reclaim words meant to knock them down. As Ambitious Girl says: No "too that" or "too this" will stop what's inside us from flowering.
3. The Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls books— Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a children's book packed with 100 bedtime stories about the life of 100 extraordinary women from the past and the present, illustrated by 60 female artists from all over the world. The unique narrative style of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 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.
4. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison— This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world. An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come.
5. Kindness is my Superpower: A children's Book About Empathy, Kindness and Compassion by Alicia Ortego— Teach your children the power of Kindness, one of the most important skills a child can learn.
