Feminist Children's Books Wishlist
1. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, by Vasthi Harrison
This beautifully illustrated book introduces reader of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.
Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash.
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About the Author:
Vashti Harrison earned her MFA in Film/Video from CalArts and BA from the University of Virginia. Her experimental films and documentaries have shown around the world at film festivals. After a brief stint in television as a production coordinator, she is now a freelance graphic designer and a picture-book illustrator (books forthcoming from S&S and HarperCollins). She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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Buy Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison $9, Amazon
2. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is also the MOST CROWDFUNDED ORIGINAL BOOK IN HISTORY.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" is a children's book packed with 100 BEDTIME STORIES about the life of 100 EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN from the past and the present, illustrated by 60 FEMALE ARTISTS from all over the world. Each woman’s story is written in the style of a fairy tale. Each story has a full page, full color portrait that captures the spirit of the portrayed hero. Hardcover, with an extra smooth matte scuff-free lamination, 100lbs beautiful paper, a double satin bookmark and an extraordinary print quality, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a beautiful object, it's printed with soy and vegetable based inks and it's FSC certified.
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About the Author:
Two Italian authors, Elena Favilli, 34, and Francesca Cavallo, published Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls after they noticed that many children's books feature traditional stories about women as princesses and boys as heroes.
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Buy Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Eelena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo $35, Amazon
3. I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, by Debbie Levy
This lively, inviting, and informative biography of a historic woman will empower young ones to bravely voice their opinions.
Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.
About the Author:
Debbie was a newspaper editor with American Lawyer Media and Legal Times; before that, Levy was a lawyer with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now called WilmerHale). Levy has a bachelor’s degree in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia, and a law degree and master’s degree in world politics from the University of Michigan.
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Buy I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy $8, Amazon
4. She Persisted, by Chelsea Clinton
Any feminist library should be in possession of Clinton’s critically lauded children’s book, which imparts the stories of 13 women who didn’t give up — from Nellie Bly to Oprah Winfrey. The title, of course, was inspired by Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was silenced as she spoke out against Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s defense of the Republican tactic that shut her down: “Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” And made history.
About the Author:
Chelsea Clinton is the author of It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going! and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives including those that help to empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their daughter, Charlotte, their son, Aidan, and their dog, Soren. You can follow her on Twitter at @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chelseaclinton.
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Buy She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton $13, Amazon
