Girl Power
If you’ve got a girl in your life, these are great books to keep on hand. Incorporating some of these books into your bedtime story rotation will help your little one feel empowered. They also make great go-to books when your daughter needs an extra boost.
I hope you love the books I recommend! Please note that the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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A Steminist Force - I’m crushing hard in this fantastic book. Written in rhyme, with stunning illustrations, this book celebrates the contributions of women in the world of S.T.E.A.M. From mathematicians and paleontologists, to biologists, artists, astronauts, and more. I love the way this book shines a light on women from all over the globe, throughout all periods of history, and across so many different scientific fields. You can feel the girl power and contagious energy coming right off of every page. Check out the backmatter for more info about each of the pioneers mentioned in the book!
She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World-I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on this new book for SO long and I’m so excited that it’s finally here! I fell in love with She Spoke as soon as I read it, and was thrilled to hear that a 2nd book in this series was on its way. Packed with information about iconic women in history who spoke up in the face of injustice, this book will inspire readers of all ages. Press the buttons on the soundboard to hear their actual voices, and sound bites from some of their most famous speeches. I love the way this book mixes history, girl power, and interactive elements. This is a MUST read!
I Am Enough - I am IN LOVE with this book! A gorgeous celebration of young girls in all different shapes, sizes and cultures. It’s full of positive affirmations and a perfect message that we are all enough, just as we are. Keturah A. Bobo’s illustrations of beautifully diverse girls will take your breath away.
Her Body Can - I’m so in love with this book! It’s full of empowering messages about body positivity, girl power and self-love. Featuring gorgeous illustrations of all the things our incredible bodies can do. I love the way this book teaches us to embrace and love ourselves, exactly as we are. The rhymes on each page make it even more engaging. We need more size-inclusive books like this. A very special thank you to East 26th Street Publishing for sending us a copy of Her Body Can.
Dear Girl - a fabulous book, written as a letter to that special girl in your life, full of empowering messages and affirmations.
Swatch, The Girl Who Loved Color - this is one of my daughter’s favorite books! Swatch, a wild and brave girl, loves color and is determined to catch and tame each wild color in a jar. But what happens when she finds a color that doesn’t want to be tamed? The illustrations are gorgeous!
Sadie and the Silver Shoes - After a lifetime of hand-me-down clothes, Sadie is thrilled to be able to pick out her own special shoes. But what happens when shoe loses one shoe? This book is great for teaching kids just how important it is to have the support of your friends. The themes of girl power and kindness reign supreme in this book!
The Night Is Yours - an absolutely gorgeous book that illustrates all of the possibilities that an evening of friends playing holds. I love the themes of positivity, friendship and wonder that shine in this book. The pictures in this book are a true celebration of diversity.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes - a fun, funky and inspiring book, starring Juno Valentine, who loves her plain every-day shoes for jumping in muddy puddles. When Juno is transported to a magical place, she steps into the shoes of powerful female icons, including Serena Williams, Frida Kahlo, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Cleopatra and more!
Mary Wears What She Wants - a book about Dr. Mary Walker, who was known to be one of the first women to wear pants. She dedicated her life to advocating for women’s rights. She smashed barriers by going to medical school, volunteering with the Union army and being the first and only women to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. This book has simple straight-forward language, which makes her story, and the message, very accessible for young children.
Not All Princesses Dress In Pink - a perfect book for every girl! Featuring princesses playing soccer, riding their bikes, building and helping each other. Your little princess will see herself reflected in these pages and be inspired to take on the world.
Princesses Save The World - what happens when princesses from all over the world work together? They save the world, of course! A fun and beautiful story about girls from all different cultures using kindness and teamwork to take on big challenges.
Princes Hair - a fun and positive book about the many different kinds of hair that princesses have. Author & illustrator, Sharee Miller, celebrates princess with puffs, braids, twists, and every type and texture of hair under the sun. An awesome book for all princesses!
Mae Among the Stars - inspired by the true story of Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Your mini space explorer will love following Mae on her journey, from dreaming about space as a young girl, to becoming a NASA astronaut. I love the way author, Rosa Ahmed, details the love and support of Jemison’s family, as well as her hard work and tenacity.
Boxitects - a fabulous book featuring positive messages about girl power, cooperation, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), and teamwork! Meg is a “boxitect” and creates amazing structures. In Maker School she meets kids who create all kinds of buildings. But what happens when she meets another boxitect with big ideas? Will they be able to work together?
Girls With Guts and Gloria’s Voice are both perfect for older children, ages 6+. Readers will learn about important figures of Women’s History and be inspired by the pioneers of the Feminist movement.
Parker Looks Up - the story of Parker Curry, a young girl who was captivated by the gorgeous portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama by artist Amy Sherald. This sweet and moving story will grab your attention and capture your heart.
Be a Maker - a beautiful book that challenges readers to make the world a better place.
Made By Maxine - Maxine is an inventor. She loves making new things out of old things. Follow Maxine and her pet fish Milton as her engineering skills are put to the test.
Beautiful - a celebration of all the unique ways that girls are beautiful, both inside and out. This books is great for 2’s and young 3’s.
Dress Like A Girl - this is the empowering, self-esteem boosting, girl-power book you’ve been waiting for! Full of fun rhyming text, whimsical illustrations that challenge the traditional stereotypes of how girls “should dress" and what they “should do.”
Extra Yarn - When a young girl finds a magical box of yarn that never seems to run out, she begins to knit sweaters for everyone around her. When critics and nay-sayers tell her she can’t keep going, that she’ll run out of yarn, she keeps knitting and slowly starts to make the world around her a more colorful and beautiful place. This book is an ode to perseverance in the face of critics and difficulties. Check it the English/Chinese edition!
We Toot: A Feminist Fable About Farting- is a hysterical rhyming book about the gas we all pass. My daughter and I read this book for the first time and could not stop laughing! Your little reader will enjoy the fun story and you’ll love the body-positive messages. This title topples the stereotype that girls don’t fart, and challenges girls to be proud of their bodies.
My Mom Has Two Jobs - is a book for all moms! It celebrates us and the many hats we wear, both in and outside the house. I love the way this book talks about moms helping people in their careers as well as their families. I love the illustrations because they feature moms of all shapes, sizes and cultures.
Mirror- is such a special book! Have you ever seen your child looking in the mirror, lost in his/her own reflection? Mirror celebrates these special moments, in which our children find themselves in their reflections and explore all that they can be. Follow our main character as she goes from baby to big kid, growing into a confident, powerful and capable young girl.
A Girl Like Me - A fabulous book that challenges all of the notions about what girls “should,” do. With vibrant illustrations of young girls of color, by Nina Crews, and empowering text by author, Angela Johnson, this story will inspire your little reader to embrace their individuality and ignore the barriers that girls encounter all too often.
What Are Little Girls Made Of? - Say goodbye to the nursery rhymes you know and dive into something new! From Little Bo Peep to Humpty Dumpty, author Jeanne Willis has reinvented your mama’s Jack and Jill with female-empowering pizazz! My daughter loved these short poems with a modern twist.
Women In Sports - From Billie Jean King and Kristi Yamaguchi, to Serena Williams and Simone Biles, this book gives readers a snapshot of the world’s hardest-working and fearless female athletes. Little readers will enjoy watching each athlete grew from a young girl into the barrier-smashing role models they are today. Talk about girl power!
Gymnastics Superstar Simone Biles - Simone Biles is a champion in every possible way. She’s a gymnastics superstar, a decorated Olympian, and most recently, a strong advocate for mental health. Little readers will find inspiration as they learn about her hard work, drive, passion, and dedication. It’s often hard to find biographies that are age-appropriate for little readers, but this one is just right!
Body Positive - I can honestly say that this book blew me away! Author, Emily Lauren Dick, speaks candidly about all things related to body image. She deconstructs the messages that women and girls receive from the media about their bodies. She instead presents un-retouched images of women of all shapes, sizes, cultures, and abilities. These women shine, in all of their natural beauty, sharing their wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, scars, and curves. Full of empowering messages and thoughtful writing prompts, this practical guide has got it all!
She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World - When the world tells you to stay quiet, do you listen, or do you speak up? Press each button and hear the real voices of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Dolores Huerta, Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr. Jane Goodall, Shirley Chisholm, Susan Shown Harjo, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Leymah Gbowee, Dr. Temple Grandin, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Tammy Duckworth, Dr. Joanne Liu, Abby Wambach, and Malala Yousafzai. This interactive book is sure to inspire your little reader!
The Dinosaur Lady - We can’t get enough of dinos in this house, so I was thrilled to find this book at our local library. My kids and I LOVED learning about the very first paleontologist, Mary Anning, and all of the groundbreaking discoveries she made. I loved sharing the story of this tenacious woman, who turned the scientific world on its head and defied gender, with my kids.
Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wombach - After hearing her story and voice in She Spoke, my son became fascinated with Abby Wombach. He LOVED learning more about her life, and I was excited to share a story about a strong, hard-working woman who overcame many challenges.
“Check back again soon for more books!”
Quick Tips:
Check out my post about self-esteem for more great books on this topic!
Take note of how often you discuss and praise your daughter’s appearance (including her clothes, shoes, face, hair etc.) Make a concerted effort to engage her about thoughts, interests and strengths.
Preview the books before you read them, this will help you to decide if they’re right for your child’s age and attention span.
Find a cozy place to read with your child and choose a time when you can take your time. A calm and comfortable environment makes a big difference!
As you read, take your time, don’t rush through the book. Answer questions that come up.
Stop reading and pay attention when your child asks a question or makes a comment, this will show them that you’re interested in their thoughts and feelings. It’ll also give you insight into how they’re feeling.
It’s ok if you don’t have all the answers, simply acknowledging your child’s thoughts and feelings goes along way.
Here are a few ideas for when you don’t know what to say:
“That’s a good question!”
“How does your body feel when that happens?”
“I’m not sure.”
“ I didn’t know you were feeling that way, but I’m glad you told me, thank you for sharing your feelings with me.”
“Should we find more books like this?”
Speak to your child’s teacher or caregiver if you have any concerns. Consider talking to other parents about any concerns or questions you may have.
You can find more great parenting suggestions about raising a powerful girl in this article from pbskids.org
