Who Runs the World: Celebrating Women in March with Books for Kids & Teens
Civil rights activist Ella Baker (standing third from right) with a group of young and teenage girls at a fair sponsored by the NAACP, circa 1950s. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 5582303
"I am a woman / Phenomenally / Phenomenal woman / That's me." Maya Angelou
In 1981 Congress passed Public Law 97-28, proclaiming the week of March 7th, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 Congress passed Public Law 100-9, which designated March 1987 “Women’s History Month.” Congress passed additional resolutions which request and authorize the President to proclaim each March as Women’s History Month.
The month of March celebrates contributions women have made to the United States and recognize achievements women have made throughout the course of American History in various fields. This booklist highlights many amazing women and their accomplishments. Educators, parents and students will be able to dive into these stories and share new knowledge with each other.
These stories will have students perform on stage with the Supremes and Selena Quintanilla, take a journey into space with Sally Ride and Mae C. Jemison, stand in the courtroom with Dovey Johnson Roundtree, create sculptures with Edmonia Lewis and learn about so many other truly amazing women!
Kids
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readersby Michelle Obama
Claudette Colvin by Lesa Cline-Ransome; illustrated by Gillian Flint
Dr. Mae Jemison: Brave Rocketeer by Heather Alexander and Jennifer Bricking
Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight by Amy Shira Teitel
Game, Set, Sisters!: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Jay Leslie; illustrated by Ebony Glenn
I am Frida Kahlo by Brad Meltzer; illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams; illustrated by Jacqueline Alcaantara
June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus by Suzanne Slade; illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Latinitas: Celebrating Big Dreamers in History! by Juliet Menaendez
One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Life-Long Mission by Katherine Johnson; with her daughters Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore; illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard; illustrated by Keith Mallett
Sally Ride by Atia Abawi; illustrated by Gillian Flint
She Persisted: Virginia Apgarby Dr. Sayantani DasGupta; interior illustrations by Gillian Flint
Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanillaby Diana Laopez; illustrations by Teresa Martainez
Standing on Her Shoulders: A Celebration of Women by Monica Clark-Robinson; art by Laura Freeman
The Story of Movie Star: Anna May Wong by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Lin Wang
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!: The Story of the Trans Women of Color Who Made LGBTQ+ History by Joy Michael Ellison and Teshika Silver; illustrated by Teshika Silver
Superheroes Are Everywhere by Kamala Harris; illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe
Try It!: How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat by Mara Rockliff; illustrated by Giselle Potter
We Are the Supremesby Zoë Tucker; illustrated by Salini Perera
Teens
Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha
Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada; artist, Ko Hyung-Ju
The Book of Gutsy Womenby Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton
(Adult title with teen appeal)
Bookish Broads: Women who Wrote Themselves into History by Lauren Marino; illustrations by Alexandra Kilburn
(Adult title with teen appeal)
Fly Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front by Mary Jennings Hegar
Just as I Am : A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
(Adult title with teen appeal)
Mighty Justice: The Untold Story of Civil Rights Trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe; adapted by Jabari Asim
Ms. Gloria Steinem: A Life by Winifred Conkling
Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury, and Women's Voices (A Cookbook With More Than 50 Recipes)by Kathy Gunst and Katherine Alford; photography by Jerelle Guy
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (Young Readers Edition) by Jeanne Theoharis
Seen. Edmonia Lewisby Jasmine Walls; illustrated by Bex Glendining; colored by Kieran Quigley; lettered by DC Hopkins
Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey (Young Readers Edition) by Kamala Harris
With Her Fist Raised: Dorothy Pitman Hughes and the Transformative Power of Black Community Activism by Laura L Lovett
(Adult title with teen appeal)
Database Resources
External Resource
Women’s History Month - The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. (Description taken from the website)
Exhibitions (Check out Culture Pass for tickets to specific museums!)
- Brooklyn Museum - The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art current exhibit: Lorraine O’Grady
- Museum of Arts and Design - Current exhibit: Beth Lipman: Collective Elegy
- Museum City of New York - Marian Anderson: A Digital Installation