25 Biographical Picture Books For National Women’s History Month
Happy National Women’s History Month! This March, celebrate with some biographical picture books. Ranging from women in STEM fields to women active in social justice movements and the arts, these are great for children (and parents!) looking to learn more about women both familiar and lesser-known.
STEM
1. Who Says women can’t be computer programmers?: the story of ada lovelace by tanya lee stone
When Ada Lovelace was a child, her mother decided she wanted her to be nothing like her romantic and unreliable father, Lord Byron (yes, that Lord Byron), and filled Ada’s childhood with math and science. The end result was Ada’s contributions to Charles Babbage’s analytical engine and her recognition of computer’s abilities to do more than just calculate. Laurie Wallmark’s prose is casual and fun, and Marjorie Priceman’s whimsical illustrations include real equations.
2. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark
Grace Hopper was a computer scientist and a U.S. Navy rear admiral who revolutionized computer programming by creating a code that allowed computers to communicate “in English.” Tracing Grace’s life from her childhood taking apart clocks to her (second) retirement from the Navy at 80, Laurie Wallmark and Katy Wu tell Amazing Grace’s inspiring story with fun and whimsical illustrations and some of Hopper’s own quotes.
3. Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating
Before Jaws arrived and made everyone super hostile toward sharks…everyone was already hostile toward sharks. Except Eugenie Clark, who made it her life’s work to study the deep’s most infamous predators and dispel the myths surrounding them. Clark’s fascination with marine life led her to get several degrees and dive (sometimes solo!) into shark-inhabited waters. Perfect for young ones interested in the ocean and in some of its most-feared inhabitants.
4. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
If you liked Hidden Figures, whether it be the film, the book, or the young reader’s version of the book, you won’t be able to take your eyes off this picture book. The stories of Mary Jackson, Christine Darden, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughn are accompanied by illustrator Laura Freeman’s bold and bright illustrations which prove to be perfect for this story.
DANCE
5. Trailblazer: the story of ballerina raven wilkinson by leda schubert
This biography of Raven Wilkinson explores the lesser known origins and career of the first black ballerina to dance for a major touring company. Though Wilkinson was able to tour, it wasn’t without threats to her safety, and eventually she left the U.S. to dance with the Dutch National Ballet where she was able to dance for royalty (as she was told she one day would). Wilkinson’s triumphs inspired Misty Copeland, who contributes a foreword, and Wilkinson herself ends the book with a statement.
6. Danza!: Amalia Hernandez and Mexico’s Folkloric Ballet by Duncan Tonatiuh
Mexican ballerina and choreographer Amalia Hernandez is brought to life by Duncan Tonatiuh, using his signature style (inspired by ancient Miztec art). When she created El Ballet Folklorio de Mexico, she introduced the traditional dances of Mexico’s indigenous groups to the world. Though Hernandez died in 2000, the company continues her mission today.
ART
7. Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown
This biography of Frida Kahlo is downright beautiful, zeroing in on Kahlo’s special relationship with her pets, who inspired and shaped her life and her art. While it makes for a great intro for children who may not know much about Kahlo, it also takes a new angle to Kahlo’s life and work that those of us who know a little about her may not have known about. And bonus, there’s also a Spanish version: Frida Kahlo Y Sus Animalitos
8. Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville
What’s your favorite classic Disney movie? Cinderella? Peter Pan? Alice in Wonderland? Do you know who did the concept art for those? Mary Blair, whose art was deemed too difficult to animate by the male animators, despite the studio loving her imaginative use of lines, colors and shapes. Brigette Barrager’s illustrations are magical and bold, and this makes for a delightful read for aspiring artists who will enjoy the
9. Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity by Sarah Suzuki
Polka dots! Polka dots everywhere! Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese contemporary artist known for covering her creations (which range from paintings to sculpture to installations) in, you guessed it, polka dots. (You may have seen some of her Infinity Rooms on Instagram!) This picture book includes recreations of Kusama’s original work, including photographs, and makes for a great introduction for young readers into a fascinating and talented artist.
ARCHITECTURE
10. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker-Harvey
You’re probably familiar with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but you’re less likely to know the woman who designed it: Maya Lin. Born to Chinese immigrants in Ohio, she was an undergrad at Yale when her design won a public contest. Though she beat out over a 1,000 other designers, controversy almost kept Lin’s memorial from being constructed. Jeanne Walker-Harvey’s book is beautiful, with a muted palette and bursts of color, and Lin’s story is inspiring and lyrically-written.
11. The World Is Not A Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter
Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid was totally uninterested in all the traditional boxes, rectangles, and squares dominating design. This picture book traces the life of the “Queen of Curve” and the creation of architecturally-adventurous, non-rectangular buildings like the London 2012 Olympics’s Aquatic Center, Michigan State’s Broad Art Museum, and the Guangzhou Opera House in China.
LITERATURE
12. Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill A Mockingbird by Bethany Hegedus
Before Harper Lee was Harper Lee, she was Nelle Harper Lee, a scrappy tomboy living in Alabama who liked watching her lawyer father at work. She drew upon her childhood when writing To Kill A Mockingbird, and Bethany Hegedus follows Harper from rambunctious childhood to elusive adulthood, with a cameo from Lee’s childhood friend Truman Capote.
13. Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson
For those of us who have been low key waiting for an adorable Jane Austen picture book, look no further, we have it! This adorable book traces Austen’s life and writerly ambitions (and Qin Leng’s illustrations are perfect, did I mention that?), from her father’s massive library full of male writers to her determination to write grounded stories about families, society, and romance. This book is as charming as its subject.
performing
14. The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by Carole Boston Weatherford
In this biography of Lena Horne, readers get a good look at her life as a performer and civil rights activist. The lyrical prose balances Horne’s career triumphs and struggles with the fight for civil rights at the time, including Horne’s experiences with segregated venues, and the paint and collage artwork from Elizabeth Zunon is dynamic and just as interesting as Horne’s story.
15. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell
Written in blank verse, this biography of Josephine Baker is just as well-researched as it is illustrated. It follows performer and civil rights advocate Baker from her childhood in St. Louis to her life in Paris. Quotes from Barker are woven throughout, making it a read as vibrant and exciting as Baker herself.
SOCIAL JUstiCE
16. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
In this free verse picture book, Lesa Ransome tells Harriet Tubman’s story in reverse. The prose is lyrical and beautiful, and the illustrations are gorgeous, and even adults will get a lesson about Tubman (did you know that as a slave she went by Minty?) in thorough and enjoyable look at all Harriet Tubman accomplished. This also was named a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book at the 2018 ALA Youth Media Awards.
17. i dissent: ruth bader ginsburg makes her mark by debbie levy
A fun-to-read and even-more-fun-to-look-at picture book about RBG’s ambition and rise to the Supreme Court. This biography traces all of RBG’s disagreements, from her dissenting to having to write with her right hand (she’s a lefty) to giving up her legal career for motherhood. A must-have for inspiring dissenting and thoughtful kids and of course for people looking to add to their collection of RBG memorabilia.
18. The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia LevinsoN
When Audrey Faye Hendricks was a child, she and her family had dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. Watching then adults around her fight for civil rights, Audrey wanted to take part too . She was the youngest participant in the Children’s March of 1963, which sent Audrey to jail for one week. Bonus: it comes with a recipe for Mrs. Hendrick’s hot rolls, baptized in butter.
19. Malala’s magic pencil by malala yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai authored this picture book herself, after the success of her memoir, I Am Malala. Alongside gorgeous, bronze-accented illustrations from Kerascoet, Malala retells her dreams of a magic pencil to redraw a world of equality, tracing her interest in education to the assassination attempt that nearly ended her life.
20. Gloria’s Voice: The Story of Gloria Steinem, Feminist, Activist, Leader by Aura Lewis
Tracking feminist icon Gloria Steinem from childhood to her awakening to inequalities faced by women, to the eventual creation of Ms. magazine, this book uses bright watercolors (all just as cool as the cover art) to introduce young readers to Steinem and her activism.
21. Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
Ten years before Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez was denied entry to a “Whites Only” school in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, Mendez and her family helped end school segregation in California by taking their case to federal court in Mendez v Westminster. Duncan Tonatiuh brings his style to a lesser known story of civil rights.
POLITICS
22. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead by Michelle Markel
Author Michelle Markel packs this biography with details about Hillary Clinton’s journey, from her activism as a young woman to her political career in Washington D.C. Illustrator LeUyan Pham covers the pages in thoughtful and detailed illustrations that are historically accurate and inspiring. A great book for people looking to introduce children to Clinton’s accomplishments and to the ever-growing role of women in politics.
athletics
23. The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, the First Woman to Run the Boston MARATHON by Kristina Yee, Susanna Chapman & Frances Poletti
When Bobbi Gibb ran the Boston Marathon for the first time, it was in secret, against the wishes of her father and the race’s organizers. Her training took her across the country and eventually to the starting line. Bobbi Gibb collaborated with the authors and illustrators to bring this book to life and it makes for a great read for everyone, but especially for young runners and athletes needing a reminder about what they’re capable of.
fAshion
24. Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe by Deborah Blumenthal
Black designer Ann Cole Lowe was a “best kept secret” in Hollywood. Though she designed dresses for Olivia de Havilland (when she won her Oscar) and Jackie Kennedy (her iconic wedding dress), Lowe never received the recognition (or the money) she deserved. Laura Freeman’s colorful illustrations serve well here in an exploration of a little-known figure’s hardworking life.
25. Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear
In this bold and beautiful book, Kyo Maclear tells the story of fashion designer Elsa Schiaperelli. Deemed ugly by her family, Schiaperelli once tried to grow flowers on her face (and “waited to bloom. Waited to bloom.”). She worked alongside surrealist artists like Salvador Dali and created a bright shade of pink she called “shocking pink.” That pink is employed generously by illustrator Jamie Morstad, who matches Maclear’s poetic retelling of the fashion icon’s life.
