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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Girl Power: Indian Women Who Took on the World
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Girl Power: Indian Women Who Took on the World
Featuring 50 brilliant Indian women from history and the present day, Girl Power: Indian Women Who Took on the World is …
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My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
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My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
A biography of the suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, whose fascinating life has been ignored by many other books for child…
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Women Who Led the Way: Great Explorers and Adventurers
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Women Who Led the Way: Great Explorers and Adventurers
In this wonderful book, Granström and Manning tell the stories of 21 amazing women from across the world, as well as highlighting …
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Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World
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Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World
An inspirational book detailing the achievements of 100 women of colour which includes a full page portrait and biography of each …
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Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World
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Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World
An appealing, meaningful and well-researched book, perfectly pitched for older primary aged children. It’s impossible not to be in…
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Lily and the Rockets
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Lily and the Rockets
A fascinating, engaging and empowering story of Lily, a teenage munitions worker at the Woolwich Arsenal, and the origins of women…
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Goddess: 50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints and Other Female F...
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Goddess: 50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints and Other Female F...
Goddesses, spirits, saints and other female figures in world religions, faiths and practices are a fascinating and empowering subj…
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Little People, Big Dreams: Wilma Mankiller
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Little People, Big Dreams: Wilma Mankiller
This is the story of the incredible life of Wilma Mankiller, the first female leader of the Cherokee Nation and dedicated activist…
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Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan
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Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan
This is the incredible true story of Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman who spied for Britain during the Second World War. Noor is w…
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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
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Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
If you're worried that your children experience a lack of female role models in the worlds of science, politics, the arts, history…
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Frida Kahlo
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Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo's life story is adapted for younger readers - with bold and colourful illustrations, and an inspiring facts and photos…
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Work It, Girl: Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison
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Work It, Girl: Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison
A beautifully written and illustrated book about the inspiring life story of Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space, from the…
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Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
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Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
Written and illustrated by a direct descendant of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, this colourful picture book is full of facts abo…
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Stories for South Asian Super Girls: A Treasure Trove of ...
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Stories for South Asian Super Girls: A Treasure Trove of ...
This beautifully illustrated collection of 50 biographies showcases a huge range of historical and modern-day South Asian women's …
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Work It, Girl: Become a Leader Like Michelle Obama
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Work It, Girl: Become a Leader Like Michelle Obama
This beautifully illustrated introduction to Michelle Obama’s inspiring life is a must for anyone with a dream, and a reminder tha…
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Lightning Mary
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Lightning Mary
Lightning Mary tells the true story of Mary Anning, a Victorian fossil expert, whose discoveries of the ichthyosaur contribut…
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Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey
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Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey
Following Oprah from her beginnings as the first black news anchor in Nashville to her first break on TV, this amazing illustrated…
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The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Ph...
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The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Ph...
Fiona Robinson’s beautifully blue book about the life of 19th-century born Anna Atkins is an inspiring testament to a father’s com…
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Swordswoman!
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Swordswoman!
Truth really is more exciting than fiction in this dramatic, real-life adventure showcasing the bravery, compassion and military p…
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Gloria’s Voice
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Gloria’s Voice
An inspirational picture book biography of an amazing woman: the feminist, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem. Aura Lewis’ dre…
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Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
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Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
The inspiring story of Grace Hopper: someone who revolutionised computer science and used her sparky sense of humour to make up th…
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It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks
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It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks
Rosa Park’s story is brought to life for a young audience in this wonderfully accessible picture book, with comic-style illustrati…
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Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
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Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
The 50 women profiled in this book are leaders in their fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Thoroughly ins…
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Girls Who Rocked the World
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Girls Who Rocked the World
This fun and fascinating collection celebrates women who left their mark on history before the age of 20. Featuring a diverse…
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HERSTORY: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook the World
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HERSTORY: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook the World
Celebrated in this lavish hardback, the stories of 50 great women redefine their “herstory”, from disability activist Helen Keller…
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Ella: Queen of Jazz
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Ella: Queen of Jazz
A focus on early prejudice towards Ella Fitzgerald and her unlikely friendship between Marilyn Monroe. The illustrations' glorious…
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Women in Sport: 50 Fearless Athletes who Played to Win
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Women in Sport: 50 Fearless Athletes who Played to Win
So many women’s achievements in sport have been overlooked in favour of men’s over the years, so it’s a great pleasure to see thes…
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Two Sisters: A Story of Freedom
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Two Sisters: A Story of Freedom
Set in Jamaica and London in 1781, this insightful novel follows the fate of half-sisters Ruth and Anna, who are born to the same …
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Mary and Frankenstein
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Mary and Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is credited with having invented the science fiction genre. But many adults and very few chi…
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She Persisted Around the World
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She Persisted Around the World
Featuring simply-told stories and glorious illustrations, this book about incredible, determined women from around the world is su…
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
This beautiful and profound book chronicles the struggles and achievements of historic and contemporary black women. Not just…
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I am Malala
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I am Malala
This is the real life story of one of the most incredible and inspirational young people in the world. Reading this book might jus…
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Corpse Talk: Ground-Breaking Women
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Corpse Talk: Ground-Breaking Women
Adam Murphy interviews 18 amazing women from history. With a casual, chatty style and colourful comic-strip illustrations, this un…
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Until We Win
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Until We Win
This dyslexia friendly book looks at feminism and friendship, set against the looming backdrop of the First World War. Lizzy is a …
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Ada Twist, Scientist
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Ada Twist, Scientist
A brilliant and beautiful rhyming book about supporting your child's curiosity, and taking inspiration from Ada Lovelace (the pion…
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Rosa Parks - Little People, Big Dreams
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Rosa Parks - Little People, Big Dreams
The Little People, Big Dreams series does it again: this book about Rosa Parks is yet another astounding and eye-welling read that…
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What Would She Do?
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What Would She Do?
In this collection of women’s stories from across history and the present day, Kay Woodward introduces the reader to 25 heroines f…
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Ballerina Dreams
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Ballerina Dreams
This heart-warming true story about working hard to achieve your dreams will inspire children to believe that they can be whoever …
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Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor
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Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor
This amazing and deeply inspiring story of a largely unknown scientist – and pioneer of the care of Komodo dragons …
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