Books featuring real-life heroines

The Little People, Big Dreams series does it again: this book about Rosa Parks is yet another astounding and eye-welling read that will make you cheer on a historical icon.

The inspiring story of Grace Hopper: someone who revolutionised computer science and used her sparky sense of humour to make up the term ​“computer bug”. A great read for children in need of inspiration when it comes to science and maths.

This beautiful and profound book chronicles the struggles and achievements of historic and contemporary black women. Not just for girls, this is an inspiring book for any child as it shows how determination, ambition and hard work can bring important change.

Featuring simply-told stories and glorious illustrations, this book about incredible, determined women from around the world is sure to inspire a generation of young readers.

This amazing and deeply inspiring story of a largely unknown scientist – and pioneer of the care of Komodo dragons – is a fascinating read, beautifully illustrated. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is credited with having invented the science fiction genre. But many adults and very few children will know the fascinating story of her life. A great introduction to Mary, a teen girl writing in a man’s world.

The 50 women profiled in this book are leaders in their fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Thoroughly inspiring and informative, in a fun and stylish illustrated format: a must for every child.

This account of the Nazi persecution of the Jews and Anne Frank’s family’s hiding in a secret annexe to escape them, is sensitively told.

Celebrated in this lavish hardback, the stories of 50 great women redefine their ​“herstory”, from disability activist Helen Keller to Indian poet, singer and saint Mira Bai and Aboriginal Australian Olympic athlete Cathy Freeman.

Adam Murphy interviews 18 amazing women from history. With a casual, chatty style and colourful comic-strip illustrations, this unique, accessible and slightly macabre series is packed full of humour and fascinating facts.

This fun and fascinating collection celebrates women who left their mark on history before the age of 20. Featuring a diverse range of women, and written in a chatty style, this book will inspire any girl (or boy) to go out there and rock the world themselves.

This accessible narrative non-fiction book tells the true story of dancer, actress and war hero Josephine Baker. She was born into a life of poverty and segregation in America in 1906 before eventually becoming one of the biggest Black stars of the time.

Marley Dias describes her campaign to find 1,000 books featuring black girl protagonists, and also provides insight on what it is to be a young social activist in the present day. Inspiring stuff. 

Michaela takes the reader with her from the joys and struggles of her early life in Sierra-Leone to the challenges and delights of her life in America.

A real-life memoir about a young person coming to terms with her sexuality and her ​‘coming out’, as well as her first relationship, this is a positive and upbeat read about being comfortable in your own skin that will inspire any young person.

This is the real life story of one of the most incredible and inspirational young people in the world. Reading this book might just change the way you think and feel.

Persepolis is Satrapi’s history of Iran and her life in Iran and France as she tries to retain her Iranian culture but also grow up and become independent.