Women’s History Month Biographies for Kids
Celebrate women’s talent and resilience with these Women’s History Month biographies for kids. Books are a wonderful way to inspire children to follow their dreams, no matter what anyone else tells them. The real-life women featured below represent excellence in the sciences, the arts, exploration, and more! What will your child be inspired to achieve?
Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of some of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Women’s History Month Biographies for Kids
Enjoy these Women’s History Month biographies, including picture books, a chapter book, and a graphic novel.
Mexican-American botanist and adventurer Ynes Mexia was a trailblazer not only because of her sex but because of her age. Ynes did not enroll in university until her 50s, and it was then that she discovered her passion for botany. Her love of plants led her out of the classroom and into the wilderness. She undertook daring expeditions, including a trip to the Amazon where she nearly lost her life. In this lovely picture book, her story is interwoven with the story of the wax palm tree that she introduced to the world. Just like that elusive tree (now the national tree of Colombia), Ynes knew what it was like to defy the odds, and the world is richer because of it.
Buy Queen of Leaves: The Story of Botanist Ynes Mexia on Amazon or Bookshop
The life of Eugenie Clark is a study in courage, both to defy those who thought women couldn’t be scientists and to study creatures that most thought were mindless killers. Thanks to her bravery and determination, we know much more about the many species of sharks and have come to have a more nuanced understanding of these complex creatures. This book shows how Eugenie persisted in the face of discrimination against her and against her beloved sharks, proving time and again that many of our beliefs about women – and sharks – were simply incorrect. A wonderful book to help children take another look at sharks and at a pioneer in their study.
Buy Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist on Amazon or Bookshop
What does sewing have to do with space exploration? This is the story of one of the women who sewed blankets for NASA, used to cover space shuttles. These specialized quilts were used to protect the shuttle and its crew from dangers like the sun’s radiation. The Sew Sisters, as these highly trained seamstresses called themselves, even help fix a near disaster on one mission, when a shuttle’s blanket tore, threatening the shuttle’s ability to reenter the atmosphere. This book is a tribute to remarkable group of women whose essential role in the space program has received little attention.
Buy Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses on Amazon or Bookshop
Sister Corita Kent is renowned for her Pop Art, but this new book reminds us of her importance as a teacher whose revolutionary approach to art has touched generations of students. She taught a new way of looking at the world, where ordinary objects, such as street signs and magazine covers, are given due importance. She considered art to be an experiment in living and taught her students to break all the conventional rules of creating art. The bold illustrations in the book capture the style of Sister Corita’s art and emphasize her groundbreaking approach to life and art. It also introduces young readers to the ways in which art can be used to create community (as in her tendency to sell art from the back of a van) – or reinforce inequalities (as is the case when art is sold for exorbitant amounts to the very wealthy).
Buy Signs of Hope: The Revolutionary Art of Sister Corita Kent on Amazon or Bookshop
Like so many of us, I grew up laughing along with I Love Lucy, yet it was only years later that I began to appreciate how unusual Lucille Ball was for her time. This new picture book gives us a glimpse at the determination it took for a spunky, funny woman to make it in show business at a time when women were cast in serious roles – or as little more than decoration. Lucille Ball carved a path not just for women in comedy but for anyone who strives to be successful while staying true to themselves. A wonderful tribute to a true pioneer.
Buy Lucy!: How Lucille Ball Did It All on Amazon or Bookshop
This book rescues little known female pirates from history, sharing their stories to inspire a new generation. The stories, accompanied by plenty of color pictures, span the centuries. While most of the women profiled lived in Europe, several were from China and the US. I love how the narrator picks out an admirable quality from each of the women featured, such as intelligence and courage. A wonderful collection sure to spark the curiosity of a new band of adventurers.
Buy Daniela and History’s Women Pirates on Amazon or Bookshop
Buy Daniela y las chicas pirata on Amazon or Bookshop
The work of the code breakers makes for thrilling reading, and this new middle grade novel is no exception. Unsung hero Elizebeth Smith Friedman not only helped catch mobsters during Prohibition, she also uncovered a network of Nazi spies operating in South America during World War II. This book not only tells the story of her life and times, it also raises dilemmas that code breakers grappled with during wartime: Were their messages put to good use by military leaders? Once a code was cracked, was it worth using it to save one fleet, even though that would alert the enemy that the code had been broken? A fascinating read for young people interested in history or the art of codebreaking.
Buy Spying on Spies: How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes on Amazon or Bookshop
Although not a biography per se, Smash the Patriarchy has earned a place in this list of Women’s History Month biographies because of its many portraits of pioneering women. This wonderful graphic novel from Norway gives a sweeping overview of sexism throughout history, from the ancient world to the present day. While it does not shy away from this grim history, it is an empowering read, celebrating the heroines who have stood up to the patriarchy through the centuries. It brilliantly explains the underlying assumptions of sexism, and how these have manifested in societies over time, such as differential education and removal from public life. And this book isn’t afraid to name names! You will never look at the “heroes” of history the same way again, after reading the openly sexist writings they left behind. Be aware that the book does explain some explicit material, such as a frank discussion of strip clubs scenes in movies, but it is never gratuitous. (The strip clubs, for example, help explain the concept of “the male gaze.”) An inspiring novel that will give young readers a fresh look at history and at present day society.
Buy Smash the Patriarchy: A Graphic Novel on Amazon or Bookshop
Related Posts:
Women’s History Month Resources for Kids
Biographies for Children of Amazing Women
