The Best Girl Power Books for Kids

I have a little girl that I love dearly and I want her to grow-up knowing that she can become anything that she wants to be and that her only limitations are her imagination and hard work.  I don’t want her intimidated by imaginary boundaries however real they may seem and I want her to feel empowered.   On a similar note, I have a little boy that I love dearly and I want him to grow up respecting and admiring women for their amazing capabilities.  So you could say that the bottom line is that I want both of them to know that they are incredible human beings with limitless potential.

Below is a list of some fantastic picture books that are perfect for kids about girl power for just this purpose. Also, I should mention that as a rule of thumb I always only post books that I have read.  However, some of these anthologies are really long and at the point of adding them on the list I may not have read all of them yet, though I have perused them in person and at least read selections from each one.  Because of their format, design, illustrations and other factors they have made it on this list.

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“Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls” by Elena Favili and Francesca Cavallo-  This hefty book is gorgeously designed and includes illustrations from 60 female artists that are beautiful.  To top it off, it features 100 strong women from all over the world who left an incredible mark.  They range from IT innovators to leaders of nations.

“Beautiful” by Stacy McAnulty and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff-  This book is out on a mission to redefine what girls may have learned the word “beautiful” means in relation to women, particularly from social media.  It is a playful and darling book that teaches that “beautiful” includes dirty hands and feet from having fun outside, big ideas, adventuring, and simply enjoying life to the fullest.

“Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World”  and “Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win” by Rachel Ignotofsky-  The first book features 50 women role models in the realm of science.  Each one made incredible contributions and discoveries and makes this book especially perfect for inspiring young girls who are interested in entering the science field someday.  The second book is it’s highly anticipated sequel that follows the same format, only it follows incredible women in the field of sports.  It is equally as fantastic and both have illustrations that are stunning.

“She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World” by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger- This book starts with a short introduction and then proceeds to give a small highlight on 13 American women who have made a difference in the world. These features cover so many heroines that include Rosa Parks, Nellie Bly, Helen Keller and many more. Each mini biography is brief, but powerful and the illustrations are lovely.

“The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko- I hope at least a few of you smile out of fondness and recognition when you see this one on the list.  It is pretty much a classic and is perfect for redefining what young girls may think princesses should be.  This princess prioritizes getting things done over hair and make up and isn’t afraid to be the leading lady in her own story.  I still remember the first time this book was read to me.

“Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women WhoChanged The World” by Susan Hood and Sophie Blackall- I really love this one!  It includes women that I formerly didn’t know anything about, yet accomplished amazing things. I also love that it is written in verse.  I enjoyed reading through each write-up.  Plus, this book includes a couple of my favorite illustrators which is always a bonus.

“Not One Damsel in Distress: Heroic Girls from World Folklore” by Jane Yolen and Susan Guevara- Another beautiful, new release, “girl power” book! Instead of being like it’s nonfiction counterparts, this collection features strong women from folktales all over the world. I just started reading it and it is fascinating. I love that they are little glimpses into other cultures too! Also, just as a “heads up”, true to legend and classic folktale format some of the these legends have some dark elements. (So I would recommend it for older readers.) Such a unique one to add to your “strong women” collection!

“Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World” by Katherine Halligan and Sarah Walsh: This large format beauty is absolutely stunning and I am so excited to dive in! With photographs, lovely illustrations and lots of interesting tid-bits from strong women all over the world it looks like a real winner.

Rebel Voices: The Global Fight for Womens Equality and the Right to Vote by Louise Kay Stewart, Eve Lloyd Knight- This book sat on my nightstand until I had finished it all and I found in incredibly fascinating.  It tells the stories of the different women in countries all over the world and the pivotal difference they made in bringing women’s right to vote in their prospective countries.  Another one for older readers.

It’s a Girl Thing!: Smart, Fierce, and Leading the Way by Pri Ferrari- This simple, yet impactful book breaks gender stereotypes in professions and teaches girls that they can be anything that they want to be.  So well done and so wonderful. 

“Gritty and Graceful: 15 Inspiring Women of the Bible” by Caryn Rivadeneira and Sonya Abby Soekarno- This beautifully illustrated book features the stories of 15 women from the bible.  Each story is quick and inspiring summary with a scripture quoted below.

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