As a graduate of a women’s college, Women’s History Month has always been near and dear to my heart. In March, in addition to revving up my informal recruiting efforts for Barnard College, I love sharing books about empowered heroines with my friends and loved ones. Today, I am sharing a selection of those books with my OOM friends.
Clara and Davie by Patricia Polacco (Ages 3-5)
Bestselling author Patricia Polacco brings to life the story of her inspirational relative, Clara Barton. With beautiful illustrations of the simple life of a country girl, Clara and Davie is the true story of young Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, and her older brother Davie. Tying together the importance of family support, believing in yourself, and staying true to your strengths, Clara and Davie is an uplifting story that is sure to inspire readers everywhere.
Here Come the Girl Scouts by Shana Corey, illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Age
s 5+)
In Here Come the Girl Scouts! readers are introduced to Juliette Gordon Low, known as Daisy to her friends and family. Daisy was not like most girls of the Victorian era – she loved the outdoors and yearned for adventure. Born into a family of pathfinders and pioneers, she too wanted to make a difference in the world and nothing would stop her. Combining her ancestors’ passion for service with her own adventurous spirit and her belief that girls could do anything, she founded the Girl Scouts. Over one hundred years later, Girl Scouts continue to have adventures, do good deeds, and make a difference in the world. (Fun fact: author Shana Corey is a graduate of Smith College, another women's college).
Scholastic: When I Grow Up series: Sally Ride by Annmarie Anderson (Ages 6-8)
This brand-new easy reader series provides perfect introductory biographies for young readers. Each book features a recognizable face and name and will take the reader on a journey from a historical figure's childhood to famed adulthood. This installment chronicles the life of Sally Ride, the acclaimed physicist and astronaut who remains the youngest American astronaut to travel to space.
Dear America series (Ages 8-14)
Written by an array of award-winning and bestselling writers, the Dear America books are presented in diary format from the perspective of girls living at different times in American history. Whether it is telling the tale of a pilgrim voyage across the treacherous Atlantic, or a young girl fighting for Japanese equality during WWII, the authors of the Dear America series transport you both emotionally and historically to a different place and time. As a child, the Dear Americabooks sparked my interest in women’s history, a passion which I developed further as a women’s history major in college!
OOM readers, what do you like to read to celebrate Women’s History Month?
