Inspiring Women
Role models and heroines abound in these books about women who made their mark on the world.
For readers in grades 3 to 5
For readers in grades 6 to 8
Stories of inspiring women.
An Actor's Life for Me by Lillian Gish
Gish shares stories of her life as a theater actress, long before the days of movies.
Bulls-Eye: A Photobiography of Annie Oakley by Sue Macy
The legendary cowgirl is brought to life through pictures, family members' memories, and portions of her own autobiography.
Cleopatra by Diane Stanley
Words and pictures combine to tell this story of the Egyptian queen who was as admired for her intelligence as she was for her beauty.
Fish Watching With Eugenie Clark by Michael Elsohn Ross, illustrated by Wendy Smith
This biography of ichthyologist Eugenie Clark also includes activities and observation tips for young fish-lovers.
Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling
The fascinating story of Harriet Tubman, who bravely escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, then took several trips to help other slaves travel north. Learn more.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh
Collages and illustrations highlight the profiles of these female inventors, whose brainchildren include Wite-out and the Snugli baby carrier.
Louisa May Alcott: Her Girlhood Diary by Louisa May Alcott, edited by Cary Ryan
Fans of Little Women can get a behind-the-scenes look by reading Alcott's clever diary entries, written between the ages of 10 and 13.
Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart by Patricia Lauber
Newbery Award-winning author Patricia Lauber follows the life and mysterious disappearance of the female aviator. Learn more.
Marie Curie: A Scientific Pioneer by Allison Lassieur
A chronicle of the childhood, marriage, and career of the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize.
Mary Cassatt: Portrait of an American Impressionist by Thomas Streissguth
Full-page pictures accompany the story of this amazing artist, who was the only American to be a part of the French Impressionist movement.
On the Field With . . . Mia Hamm by Matt Christopher
A perfect book for soccer fans, this bio focuses on key moments in Mia Hamm's athletic career, including her 1996 Olympic gold medal.
Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Gil Ashby
This story tells of the quiet woman known as the "mother of the civil rights movement."
Sacagawea by Rosemary Wallner
Activities and a map punctuate this biography of the woman behind Lewis and Clark's adventures.
Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman by Patricia C. and Fredrick L. McKissack
This biography of the famous abolitionist also paints a realistic picture of an important but difficult time in American history. Learn more.
Susan B. Anthony: Daring to Vote by Barbara Keevil Parker
This history of a women's movement forerunner features photographs, illustrations, and fictionalized dialogue.
All But My Life: A Memoir by Gerda Weissmann Klein
Gerda Weissmann Klein candidly tells her life story, from a storybook childhood in Poland to her imprisonment in a Nazi labor camp to her rescue by American soliders.
Althea Gibson by Tom Biracree
This biography of the first black woman to win Wimbledon recounts Gibson's hardships as well as her triumphs.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, translated by B. M. Mooyaart
Anne Frank fills the pages of her diary with an honest, startling account of her days of hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc by Polly Schoyer Brooks
Presents the facts behind the story of a peasant girl in 15th century France who leads a fight to see the rightful king in place.
Cool Women: The Thinking Girl's Guide to the Hippest Women in History by Dawn Chipman
This book is filled with fresh profiles of female role models, from Jane Goodall to Cleopatra.
Dear Dr. Bell . . . Your Friend, Helen Keller by Judith St. George
With the help of Keller's diaries and letters, this book follows her life and lifelong friendship with Alexander Graham Bell.
Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman
This biography covers the 32nd First Lady's life from her childhood to her famous work with the United Nations.
Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling
The fascinating story of Harriet Tubman, who bravely escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad, then took several trips to help other slaves travel north. Learn more.
A Girl From Yamhill: A Memoir by Beverly Cleary
Fans of Beverly Cleary, and aspiring writers, will enjoy this memoir covering the period from Cleary's youth through the publication of her first novel.
Harriet: The Life and World of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Norma Johnston
This balanced history of Stowe includes her puritanical upbringing and her trials as a mother.
Herstory: Women Who Changed the World edited by Ruth Ashby and Deborah Gore Ohrn
Travel chronologically from ancient Egyptian queens to present-day athletes in these short, fun-to-read biographical sketches.
Indira Gandhi by Francelia Butler
This biography of the Indian prime minister gives equal time to her best accomplishments and her worst mistakes.
Lucretia Mott: A Guiding Light by Jennifer Fisher Bryant
This biography follows all 87 years in the life of Mott, a spiritual leader and a forerunner in the fights for abolition and for women's rights.
Madeleine Albright: First Woman Secretary of State by Barbara Kramer
From her early, ambitious years as a journalist through her tenure as an outspoken Secretary of State, this biography covers Albright's personal and political life.
Streams to the River, River to the Sea: A Novel of Sacagawea by Scott O'Dell
Newbery Award-winning author Scott O'Dell offers a fictionalized look at Sacagawea's point of view during her travels with Lewis and Clark.
Women Who Changed Things by Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith
Eye-opening portraits of women in a wide range of careers, from astronomy to teaching.
12/15/06
