Inspirational Picture Book Biographies of Women
Looking for inspirational picture book biographies of women throughout history? From Jane Austen to Aretha Franklin, this list will get your kids started on reading about amazing women throughout history.
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This booklist has so many exciting titles and these picture books are perfect for preschoolers, kindergartners, and early elementary ages. If you have any favorite bios to add to the list, shout ’em out in the comments below.
There are SO many fantastic books on this list, I wanted to give you a place to start (you can also follow along on Instagram for all my reviews), so the following few books are some of my very favorites from this list.
Where do I start?
If you really can’t decide where to start, some of my top picks include Just Like Beverly, which is a wonderful choice for kids who might be reading Beverly Cleary’s popular children’s books.
A Computer Called Katherine will inspire young women to reach for their dreams no matter the obstacles, and to not be shy about using their talents.
Of course, as a life-long Austen fan, I have to say that Ordinary Extraordinary Jane Austen is a favorite of mine too!
Again, this booklist is great for that 4-8 year old crowd, and you can certainly pick up any books that look interesting and read with older/younger kiddos as you wish.
Inspirational Picture Book Biographies of Women
(if you cannot view the following widget, keep scrolling for a text list of each title and links)
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear, and illustrated by Julie Morstad
The Queen and the First Christmas Tree: Queen Charlotte’s Gift to England by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad, illustrated by David Hohn
A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Veronica MIller Jamison
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia (Millbrook Picture Books)
by Miranda Paul (Author), Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator)
Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya
by Donna Jo Napoli (Author), Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
Dorothea’s Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth
by Barb Rosenstock (Author), Gerard Dubois (Illustrator)
The Story Of Ruby Bridges: Special Anniversary Edition
by Robert Coles (Author), George Ford (Illustrator)
Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel
by Lisa Pliscou (Author), Jen Corace (Illustrator)
Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist (Picture Book Biography)
by Andi Diehn (Author), Katie Mazeika (Illustrator)
A Voice Named Aretha Hardcover – January 7, 2020
by Katheryn Russell-Brown (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator)
Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Ocean’s Biggest Secret
by Jess Keating (Author), Katie Hickey (Illustrator)
Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe (Author), Barbara McClintock (Illustrator)
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909
by Michelle Markel (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)
Louisa May’s Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women
by Kathleen Krull (Author), Carlyn Beccia (Illustrator)
So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom
by Gary D. Schmidt (Author), Daniel Minter (Illustrator)
Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa
by Jeanette Winter (Author)
Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box, and One Clever Girl by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Qin Leng
