March is Women’s History Month and we’re all about books celebrating amazing girls and women—their accomplishments, their character and their contributions to society! Below, 32 of our favorite Women’s History Month books for the classroom.
Picture Books
Introduce young students to a variety of amazing women and topics with these engaging and accessible titles.
1. The Pink Hat by Andrew Joyner (Grades K-2)
Because this feel-good story will get kids talking about women’s rights—and maybe even wearing their own pink hats.
2. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey (Grades K-2)
Because all students should know the story –and the woman—behind one of the United States’ most symbolic memorials.
3. Free as a Bird: The Story of Malala by Lina Maslo (Grades K-2)
Because we can never read enough about this brave heroine’s fight for all girls to be able to go to school.
4. Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown (Grades K-2)
Because this biography paints the story of an iconic artist in just the right kid-friendly way.
5. The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller (Gr. K-2)
Because Wilma Rudolph is an enduring inspiration to little girls everywhere.
6. Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport (Gr. K-3)
Because Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a champion in the fight for women’s right to vote.
7. Girl Running by Annette Bay Pimental (Grades K-3)
Because Bobbi Gibb paved the way for female marathoners up Heartbreak Hill and beyond.
8. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed (Grades K-3)
Because Mae Jemison broke all kinds of barriers on her journey into space.
9. Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Vladez (Grades K-3)
Because there are lots of girls who love reptiles!
10. Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box, and One Clever Girl by Deborah Hopkinson (Grades K-3)
Because shy, bookish girls can be extraordinary, too.
11. The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca (Grades K-3)
Because this engaging rhyming text packs in tons of information about a pioneer female doctor.
12. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Grades 1-4)
Because before she was a household name, Harriet Tubman was a courageous guide, spy, nurse, suffragist, and a hero.
13. No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Kathleen Krull (Grades 2-6)
Because when one of our longtime favorite nonfiction authors tells the story of one of the most influential American women in history, we definitely want to share it with students.
Middle Grade Books
Help your students see themselves in the trials and triumphs of these strong girls.
14. Inside Out and Back Again byThanhha Lai (Grades 3-6)
Because this touching story of a young girl’s experience as a refugee is told entirely in verse and is still as relevant today as when it was released.
15. Step Up To The Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami (Grades 4-6)
Because for some girls, playing a sport you love may mean navigating a complicated world of bias.
16. Amina’s Voice by Hena Kahn (Grades 3-7)
Because Amina is a role model for every young girl trying to find her voice.
17. Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson (Grades 4-7)
Because Betty Shabazz was a leader long before marrying Malcom X.
18. Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar (Grades 5-7)
Because Cuban-Jewish immigrant Ruthie learns a lot as she tackles the challenges thrown her way in this story based on the author’s childhood.
19. Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! by Marley Dias (Grades 5-8)
Because it’s young social activists like Marley Dias that make women’s history every day.
20. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed the World by Joyce Sidman (Grades 5-8)
Because Maria Merian didn’t let the prevailing opinion that insects were “beasts of the Devil” destroy her naturalist ambitions –and made science beautiful while she was at it.
Young Adult Books
Give your students plenty to ponder with this diverse YA reading list.
21. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Grades 6 and up)
Because it’s a timeless classic and really, can any girl’s education be complete without it?
22. Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings (Gr 7 and up)
Because Jazz Jennings’s contributions to conversations about gender identity are profound.
23. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson (Gr 7 and up)
Because the experiences of today’s girls of color are a key piece of women’s history.
24. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Grades 8 and up)
Because this story is necessary and important.
24. #Not Your Princess:Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale (Grades 9 and up)
Because this raw, intense look into the lives of Native girls and women helps readers understand both the past and the future of a population integral in our nation’s history.
25. A Hope More Powerful Than The Sea by Melissa Fleming (Grades 9 and up)
Because this moving story gives a face to the Syrian refugee crisis.
26. The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes and Other Dauntless Girls edited by Jessica Spotswood (Grades 9 and up)
Because even though these stories are fictional, they remind us that women and girls were present for, and key parts of, all phases of history.
 Collected Biographies
To give students a balanced perspective, explore lesser-known figures, or make work with informational short text meaningful in your classroom, look to the fast-growing genre of biographical anthologies about women.
27. Shaking Things Up by Susan Hood (Grades K-3)
Because these stories of young girls who dared to believe the world could be different, told in verse, will motivate young people everywhere to shake things up.
28. She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History by Chelsea Clinton (Grades K-3)
Because these ladies didn’t step down.
29. More Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines from Ada Lovelace to Misty Copeland by Michelle Roehm McCann (Gr. 3-7)
Because this diverse group of women made their mark on history before they even turned twenty.
30. Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky (Grades 5-8)
Because athletes and non-athletes alike can learn from these fearless winners.
31. Rad Women Worldwide: Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History by Kate Schatz (Grades 5 and up)
Because there are so many rad women who’ve made history.
32. Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen (Grades 7 and up)
Because there is something here for everyone.
What are your favorite Women’s History Month books? We’d love to hear about them in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE is a place for teachers to ask and respond to questions on classroom challenges, collaboration and advice.
Plus, don’t miss our Women’s History Month activities and a related online scavenger hunt.
