Throughout history, women and girls have changed the world. And those of us who have kids or work with kids every day know just how important it is to inspire these young hearts to dream big, stand up for themselves and others, and have the confidence to face life with courage. Books have the power to help us do that.
Here are thirteen girl power picture books to inspire girls to be brave and bold.
One little girl finds it easy to speak up, make new friends, and shoo away the monsters under her bed when she has a great big lion by her side. Next to her lion, nothing is scary--not even broccoli. But when a classmate tells her the lion is only in her imagination, that bravery vanishes. Suddenly, the world is scary again. Until the little girl tries a roar of her own and discovers that maybe the courage she needed was inside her all along.
At once fierce and tender, Colter Jackson's Everyday Brave is a book about finding your footing, facing your fears, and discovering the lion-like roar within.
Age range: 3–8 years
Meet Vera the Brave--La Valiente! She dives like a dolphin, climbs like a mountain goat, and defends her amigos like un león. But she trembles when she hears her teacher say, "We're going to Rocking Roller Coasters!" Oh no! Vera tries to convince the teacher her plan is not the best, but Ms. Rodríguez does not change her mind about the field trip. Now if Vera can't face her fears, everyone will discover she's not that brave after all! But what if being brave is much more than she expected?
Vera La Valiente Is Scared redefines what it means to be brave. It's okay to show your feelings and fears! And maybe, with some help, you can even face some of them.
Age range: 3–8 years
As one girl watches her mom battle illness, she sees Mom being strong, brave, and fierce on both good days and bad ones. The girl wants to be brave like Mom! As she worries about her mom's health, the girl realizes that bravery comes in many forms and that she can be brave too. Brave Like Mom is a poignant and sensitive story about a loved one living with a chronic illness, and an important lesson about how being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared.
Age range: 5–8 years
Rosalind Looked Closer: An Unsung Hero of Molecular Science
As a Jewish girl in England, Rosalind Franklin grew up against the backdrop of World War II. Fascinated with the natural world, Rosalind developed a passion for science during a time when few women were recognized for their contributions to the field.
As a scientist, she captured an image of DNA that was unlike any other image that had been seen before. She saw an image of a helix made up of repeating strands of DNA. This was what the DNA double helix looked like up close—one of the most important findings of the twentieth century. An unsung hero of molecular science, Rosalind persisted even when men took credit for her work, going on to research the molecular shape of viruses. Rosalind Looked Closer is sure to inspire educators and parents interested in encouraging curiosity and a passion for STEM in girls and boys.
Age range: 5–8 years
While at a family reunion, Hattie just wants to play horseshoes, but her boisterous relatives keep hugging her. Great-Grandma is the only relative who understands how Hattie feels. With Great-Grandma's help, Hattie learns to use simple but clear body language with verbal reinforcement to set boundaries around her personal space and to assert her right to consent to physical touch. Hattie Hates Hugs will teach huggers and non-huggers alike the importance of respecting people's personal boundaries and provides an example of how to advocate for yourself with confidence.
Age range: 3–8 years
In a world where little girls must learn to stand tall, A Girl's Bill of Rights boldly declares the rights of every woman and girl: power, confidence, freedom, and consent. Author Amy B. Mucha and illustrator Addy Rivera Sonda present a diverse cast of characters standing up for themselves and proudly celebrating the joy and power of being a girl.
Age range: 3–8 years
Poet, Pilgrim, Rebel: The Story of Anne Bradstreet, America's First Published Poet
Late at night, with her children tucked into bed and her husband away on business, Anne Dudley Bradstreet composed poems by candlelight. Puritan women in the 1600s weren't allowed to be writers. But when the world learned about Anne's poetry, even she was astonished by what happened next. This charmingly illustrated picture book tells the inspiring story of how a Puritan woman overcame the obstacles facing women of her era to become one of the most famous poets in history. A gifted writer of deep faith, Anne Bradstreet blazed a trail for the rights of women to study, write, and achieve.
Download the free Poet, Pilgrim, Rebel Educator's Guide for kids to continue learning about Anne Bradstreet and her writing.
Age range: 5–8 years
The Girl with Big, Big Questions
"Why can't people live on the moon?"
"Can I be president when I grow up?"
"What makes a person good?"
These are just some of the questions that bubble forth from one little girl with twinkling eyes and a curious mind. When the girl finds that her big questions make some people uncomfortable, she stops asking. But then she learns that her questions can solve problems and that asking questions is how we learn and grow. The Girl with Big, Big Questions celebrates the spirit of curiosity and the joy of learning. A lively picture book about a persistent girl and her quest for knowledge.
Age range: 5–8 years
Fly, Girl, Fly! Shaesta Waiz Soars around the World
Shaesta Waiz, a refugee from Afghanistan, dreamed of doing great things. But she had some obstacles to overcome first: leave a refugee camp, make a new life in America, be the first in her family to go to college, and overcome her fear of flying. At the age of thirty, Shaesta was the youngest woman and the first from Afghanistan to circumnavigate the globe by herself in a single-engine aircraft. Fly, Girl, Fly! tells her incredible story and encourages all kids, especially young girls, to pursue their dreams and follow their heart.
Author Nancy Roe Pimm shared with us her tips for inspiring kids to believe in their dreams. Read it now.
Age range: 3–8 years
Many of us know God the Father, but did you know that God is our Mother too? Mother God introduces a dozen images of God inspired by feminine descriptions from Scripture. God is a creative seamstress, generous baker, fierce mother bear, protective mother hen, strong woman in labor, nurturing nursing mother, wise grandmother, and comforting singer of lullabies. When we open our eyes to the divine feminine, we are all welcomed into a fuller, more diverse understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God.
Use the Mother God Scripture Guide and coloring pages alongside the book to more fully remind kids that God's love as a mother knows no bounds.
Age range: 3–8 years
Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way
Young Black leaders have always been at the forefront of the fight for justice, freedom, and equity. And Black girls today are stepping up and leading in bold, creative ways. In Black Girls Unbossed, eight young Black women are profiled, including the founder of a child literacy nonprofit, political activists, and a school shooting survivor who launched a political action committee to prevent gun violence. These are the young Black women we will be reading about and studying decades from now. Like the young women who came before them, Black girls today are saying "enough is enough" and building a better world.
Continue the conversation with the Black Girls Unbossed Discussion Guide—perfect for book clubs, church groups, or individual study.
Age range: 8–12 years
Different is just different, and different is great!
When Charley goes to the playground and sees Emma, a girl with limb differences who gets around in a wheelchair, he doesn't know how to react at first. When Charley Met Emma will help kids think about disability, kindness, and how to behave when they meet someone who is different from them.
In the follow-up picture book, Awesomely Emma, Emma has to call upon her sense of inner awesome to stand up for herself after facing accessibility problems on her class trip. Along the way, she teaches everyone a lesson about the transformative power of self-advocacy.
Age range: 3–8 years
