Published March 1, 2025
Happy Women’s History Month! As kids, most of us have the same basic dream—we hope to grow up and find our place in the world, making a difference where we can. But until relatively recently, women weren’t always allowed to do that. Women have had to fight for some of the most basic rights that are freely given to (white) men, like voting, owning property, or even opening their own bank account.
That’s why, every March, we celebrate Women’s History Month—a month that’s dedicated to women’s struggles, achievements, and liberty. And much like we did last month for Black History Month, we’ve put together a list of inspiring reads about women through history that you can share with your kids.
Don’t forget to check the library to see if they have any of the books on the list—or recommendations for similar books your kids might like. Happy reading!
Grades K – 3
- She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World
by Chelsea Clinton
This book introduces kids to some of the legends of women’s history. They’ll read all about important figures like Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, and Sally Ride. But they’ll also come away with a very important lesson—everyone faces obstacles along the way; we just need the perseverance to push through.
Learn more about this book here. - Malala’s Magic Pencil
by Malala Yousafza
Children might connect with this book, in particular, because it tells the story of a fellow kid. The author, Malala, was born in Pakistan during some pretty hard times for her country. At the age of 11, she started writing about her struggles and sharing those struggles with the world. Malala’s Magic Pencil teaches young readers that every kid can make a difference.
Learn more about this book here. - Shirley Chisolm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress
by Alicia D. Williams
Your kids are growing up during the time of Kamala Harris, so hopefully they think it’s completely normal for women to be in politics. But for most of US history, it was anything but—especially for Black women. That all changed when a brave woman from New York, Shirley Chisolm, became the first Black woman to be elected to Congress. She served her community, led with conviction, and inspired a generation, and this book tells her story from the very beginning.
Learn more about this book here. - Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales to Dream Big
by Elena Favilli
For far too long, women have been told what they can and can’t do. It takes a bunch of rebels to break down those barriers and rethink what’s possible. This book tells the stories of 100 such women. The stories are short and sweet, but still exciting and inspiring—the perfect bite-sized nuggets for sending your kids to sleep with big dreams for their futures.
Learn more about this book here. - Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
by Helaine Becker
In 1970, the US tried to land on the moon. But there was a major problem during the flight, and suddenly, all of the astronauts were in danger. The world held their breath while NASA tried to bring them home to safety, and Katherine Johnson, a Black mathematician, was an important part of that effort. This book honors her contributions, while teaching your kids that math can be exciting—and life-saving!
Learn more about this book here.
Grades 4 – 8
- Hidden Figures: Young Readers’ Edition
by Margot Lee Shetterly
If your kids are interested in space, they’ll be amazed to hear the true story of four Black women mathematicians who worked for NASA in the 1960s and helped with some of the most important milestones in the space program. Not only that, but they did so during the Civil Rights era and the movement for gender equality. If you’ve seen the movie of the same name, you’ll know how many obstacles they had to overcome and how truly incredible these women are.
Learn more about this book here. - Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science
by Jeannine Atkins
This book takes science out of the lab and makes it approachable and inspirational. It follows three women—Maria Merian, Mary Anning, and Maria Mitchell—who became fascinated with insects, fossils, and comets, respectively. Written in verse and with beautiful illustrations, Finding Wonders is a treat for the eyes as much as the brain.
Learn more about this book here.
- Wilma Rudolph: Running for Gold
by Percy Leed
This book tells the story of Wilma Rudolph, who suffered from polio as a child, but still became one of the most famous sprinters of all time. She made history as the first US woman to win three gold medals at the Olympics and, most importantly, she did not let her childhood limitations define her.
Learn more about this book here. - Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman?
by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick McKissack
Sojourner Truth was one of the most important figures in the fight to end slavery in the US. She recruited soldiers for the Union during the Civil War, raised money for their army, and met with President Lincoln. She tirelessly fought for the rights of Black Americans and women during her lifetime, and this book tells her amazing sotry.
Learn more about this book here. - How Women Won the Vote: Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Their Big Idea
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Nowadays, most people take voting for granted. But until the Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1920, women had no legal voice in electing the people who governed them. And it was a long, hard road to change that. This book tells the story of the struggle to gain women’s voting rights and is an important reminder—for girls and boys—that some of our most basic human rights weren’t always so basic.
Learn more about this book here.