Girls Who Rocked the World
by Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+
Published by Simon and Schuster, 2017
About this book
This fun and fascinating collection celebrates women who left their mark on history before the age of 20. Alongside more well-known figures such as Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale are the stories of remarkable women whose achievements definitely deserve greater recognition.
From Laura Bassi, an 18th-century Italian physicist, to Phyllis Wheatley, a pioneer of the Black American literary tradition, the book crosses the globe and the centuries to tell the stories which don’t usually make the history books. It’s a great addition to the "herstory" movement, with a list of recommended resources for readers to find out more about the lives of their favourite heroines.
Featuring a truly diverse range of women, and written in a chatty, engaging style, this book will inspire any girl (or boy) to go out there and rock the world themselves.
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Lists of recommended reads
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Celebrating inspirational women
Whether it's International Women's Day or not, it's always worth pointing out and celebrating the – often forgotten or undervalued – achievements of women, both past and present. Luckily, there are some brilliant children's books right now that are doing just that. If you want to challenge gender stereotypes and show your little one some fantastic role models, then this is a good place to start.
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Books featuring real-life heroines
Here's a list of some of our favourite non-fiction books with inspiring heroines for older girls and young teens.
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8 of the most inspiring real-life women in children's books
Children's fiction and non-fiction alike is full of vivid accounts of women who were complete pioneers and paved the way for girls today. Author Harriet Whitehorn picks just a few of her favourites.