Picture this: A girl, not unlike someone might you know, who took what could have been an ordinary life and turned it into something extraordinary. These 12 women changed the world in a way that only they could \u2014 through their words, their actions, their talents, their ideas, and their resilience. And these 12 picture book biographies bring their worlds to life for some of our littlest readers.<\/p>\n
no no 9780593902196 Margaret and the Moon<\/i> by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Lucy Knisley <\/p>\n
This inspiring picture book teaches kids about Margaret Hamilton. As a young girl, Margaret loved numbers and math. Her curiosity and hard work took her first to MIT and then to NASA, where her code was instrumental in putting a man on the moon. In fact, the Apollo 8<\/i>, Apollo 9<\/i>, Apollo 10<\/i>, and Apollo 11<\/i> missions wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the code that Margaret wrote! <\/p>\n
9780593525913 A Voice of Hope<\/i> by Nadia Salomon, illustrated by London Ladd <\/p>\n
This captivating picture book chronicles Myrlie Evers-Williams’ journey from growing up in the segregated South to her role as a formidable advocate for justice. A woman who inspires resilience and activism, her story motivates readers to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.<\/p>\n
9780593566718 Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography <\/i> by Wendy Loggia, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri <\/p>\n
Swifties of all ages will love this Little Golden Book Biography about the Grammy-winning and multiplatinum artist. Taylor Swift\u2019s talent and hard work helped her become a versatile singer and songwriter beloved by fans around the world. Little readers (and their parents) will feel inspired to reach for the stars!<\/p>\n
9780525514084 Turning Pages<\/i> by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Lulu Delacre <\/p>\n
As a little girl, books saved Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court justice. While this ostensibly is a story about Sotomayor\u2019s life, it\u2019s really about the love of reading.<\/p>\n
9780593324202 Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller <\/i> by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by April Harrison <\/p>\n
This beautiful book spotlights a woman who used her passion for storytelling to make a difference in her community. Augusta Baker learned how to tell amazing stories from her grandmother and eventually became the first Black coordinator of children\u2019s services at the New York Public Library. Her storytelling abilities and desire for better representation led her to champion other Black creators at the library. <\/p>\n
9780525579601 She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein<\/i> by Lynn Fulton, illustrated by Felicita Sala <\/p>\n
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley started writing Frankenstein<\/a><\/em> at just 18 years old. Today, on the 200th anniversary of the book\u2019s publishing, Lynne Fulton revisits the very night the young writer invented one of our most lasting, unforgettable characters.<\/p>\n 9780375867743 The Watcher: Jane Goodall\u2019s Life with the Chimps<\/i> by Jeanette Winter <\/p>\n At 89 years old, Jane Goodall is still going strong \u2014 in fact, she just announced a partnership with Bezos Earth Fund<\/a> to further expand her conservation work in Africa. This sweet picture book traces Goodall\u2019s passion for animals back to her childhood in London and her first trip to Africa to observe chimpanzees.<\/p>\n 9780823420476 Before She Was Harriet<\/i> by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome <\/p>\n The abolitionist and civil rights activist we know as Harriet Tubman \u2014 the most important \u201cconductor\u201d on the Underground Railroad \u2014 actually went by many names in her lifetime. This book covers them all, and tells her incredible life story in verse.<\/p>\n 9780735228740 I am Billie Jean King<\/i> by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos <\/p>\n On September 20, 1973 \u2014 at the height of the women\u2019s movement \u2014 female tennis champion Billie Jean King famously took on Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs \u2014 and won. (The match was called the \u201cBattle of the Sexes<\/a>.\u201d) This installment in the popular Ordinary People Change the World series<\/a> introduces young readers to some of the challenges King faced and successes she celebrated.<\/p>\n 9780399166150 Firebird<\/i> by Misty Copeland <\/p>\n Misty Copeland\u2019s name is practically synonymous with ballet, and for good reason. Though she didn\u2019t get her start until she was 13, she went on to become the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre\u2019s 75-year history. Copeland continues to be an empowering role model for aspiring dancers, and in Firebird<\/i>, she charts her course from an unsure young girl joining a new world to the indomitable performer, athlete, and public figure she is today. <\/p>\n 9780399557255 Joan Proctor Dragon Doctor <\/i> by Patricia Valdez, illustrated by Felicita Sala <\/p>\n Can you imagine having a tea party with a Komodo dragon? It\u2019s an unusual proposition, but it was just another day at work for Joan Procter, an internationally renowned herpetologist \u2014 that is, a zoologist who studies reptiles and amphibians. Procter was born in the UK in 1897, and while her peers favored dolls, Procter was never without her favorite lizard. In adulthood, she was named the first female Curator of Reptiles at London Zoo, and her valuable work both furthered the field of study and opened doors for others like her. <\/p>\n 9781580897853 Malala: Activist for Girls\u2019 Education<\/i> by Raphaele Frier, illustrated by Aurelia Fronty <\/p>\n Malala Yousafzai grew up in the beautiful mountains of Pakistan, where she was a precocious young girl who loved going to school. At fifteen, when she defied the Taliban\u2019s ban on girls\u2019 education, she was nearly killed for it. This beautiful picture book biography, resplendent in its illustrations, follows Malala through her extraordinary young life, including her continued activism, infamous UN speech<\/a>, and historic Nobel Peace Prize. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.<\/i><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These picture books introduce growing readers to 12 women who changed the world through their words, actions, talents, ideas, and resilience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":114402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[59,124,901,953],"coauthors":[43],"class_list":["post-13401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picture-books","tag-biography","tag-women-in-history","tag-womens-history-month","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader"],"yoast_head":"\nYou might also like:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n