As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize that teaching about the indelible influence women have had on all aspects of United States society is work that cannot be confined to just one month of the year. Yet, Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to consciously and critically examine the ways we teach about women. For example, teaching about intersectionality can help students understand the interconnectedness of gender, race, class, ability and other social categories and the ways this creates privilege and disadvantage in society. And we can raise awareness about gender binaries and the exclusion that results from classifying gender into two, distinct, opposite categories. As we celebrate women this month and all year, we have the power to teach in ways that are inclusive and representative.
The following books can help educators create vibrant learning environments that honor the contributions of women. A particular goal of this curation is to spotlight women and nonbinary people whose names and work may not be familiar to many students. Every effort has been made to provide titles of books written by #ownvoices authors who are able to write from an insider perspective with specificity, nuance, and care about individuals and groups who have been marginalized. Exceptions have been marked by an asterisk.
Mae Jemison Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed
Simone Biles Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows
Buffalo Bird Woman Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story by S.D. Nelson
Ruby Bridges This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges
Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born To Lead by Michelle Markel
Bessie Coleman Talkin’ About Bessie: Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki Grimes
Janet Collins Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows
Gyo Fujikawa It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear
Ruth Bader Ginsburg I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy Elizabeth Baddeley
Temple Grandin Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery and Temple Grandin
Kamala Harris Kamala Harris: Rooted In Justice by Nikki Grimes
Frida Kahlo Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
Phyllis Lyon Del Martin When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community by Gayle E. Pitman, PhD
Patsy Mink *Patsy Mink, Mother of Title 9 by Ai-Ling Louie
Emily Roebling Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty
Wu Chien Shiung *Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom (Volume 6) (People Who Shaped Our World) by Teresa Robeson
Sonia Sotomayor Turning Page: My Life Story by Sonia Sotomayor
Gloria Steinem Gloria Takes a Stand: How Gloria Steinem Listened, Wrote, and Changed the World by Jessica M. Rinker
Ida B. Wells-Barnett Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told by Walter Dean Myers
Venus & Serena Williams Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome
*Anna May Wong Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison
Modern Herstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History by Blair Imani
Native Women of Courage: Native Trailblazers Series by Kelly Fournel
Rad Women A-Z by Katie Schatz