Women’s History Month is celebrated each year in March. Personally, I try to include plenty of Women’s History and girl power stories in what we read all year long, but it definitely feels important to sit back and really think about the big and little ways women helped to shape our country each year.
How you do this during a story time will depend greatly on the age of the children you are working with but I have provided ideas for preschoolers and up below.
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Women’s History Month Story Time
Women’s History Month story time, like any story time, needs to start with some excellent read aloud children’s books! I have a huge list of children’s books about remarkable women (you can click here to read that full list) but some of them lend themselves more to reading with one child or a small group. Below are a read alouds that will capture and hold the attention of a larger group.
Women’s History Read Alouds
When choosing books to read aloud for a storytime, there are usually a few that work well with the theme and lend themselves to being read aloud particularly well. For this theme I had trouble narrowing it down so below are a selection of high quality, compelling, highly readable books about amazing women (a good problem to have!). See what’s available to you and what fits best with who you’re reading to and hoping to inspire.
That Book Woman
Written by Heather Henson
Pictures by David SmallParagraph
Amazing book about the power of books. Told by an Appalachian boy who learns the power of books from the grit and bravery of a library woman. I cried. It’s awesome.
The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr Patricia Bath
Written by Julia Finley Mosca
Illustrated by Daniel Rieley
How is it possible that I have not heard of Dr. Patricia Bath until I read this book? Granted I don’t spend a lot of time in the world of eye doctors, but still. She is awesome. Julia Finley Mosca articulates Dr Bath’s laundry list of accomplishments with a poetic, rhyming style that carries you through her life story in a way that is far from the boring, droning resume reading style of so many children’s book biographies. Instead, you are left in awe of an incredible woman and her barrier breaking career inspired by a chemistry set, encouraging parents, and an inquisitive girl.
Nadia the Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still
Written by Karlin Gray
Illustrated by Christine Davenier
I love this book because I’m a huge gymnastics fan, but more importantly because I have a little girl who cannot sit still. I am forever hearing stereotypes about boys who are active and I love that this book shows an example of not only a fidgety girl but how that turned into a wonderful thing.
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
Written by Katheryn Russell-Brown
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
The true story of jazz legend Melba Doretta Liston. Melba overcame many obstacles to be the first woman of any race to be a world-class trombone player, composer and arranger. Full of spunk and born to make music, Melba’s story is an inspiration for anyone who just feels in their bones that they are meant to do something. This picture book is told and illustrated with that same spunk and rhythm.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriett Tubman
Written by Alan Schroeder
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
I would call this one historical fiction for kids. The facts are true but the account of young Harriett is fictionalized. It draws you into the reality of slavery in a huge sweep of language and illustrations. This is unlike any other book I’ve read about Harriett Tubman (and there are a ton of good ones!).
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
Written by Jess Keating
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
One of the best non-fiction picture books I have ever read. Interesting topic and great message. Beautiful illustrations and fascinating details. This book both satisfied us with its story and information and yet left us eager to leave more. SHARK LADY is a well done biography from start to finish. Great for anyone who loves the ocean and sharks, but also a wonderful empowering story about a woman who succeeded through determination and hard work.
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell
Written by Tanya Lee Stone
Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
I have known that Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman doctor in America since childhood but I don’t think I had ever really heard our story. This book captures her spirit, her fight, her strength. Very readable and colorfully illustrated, this is a fun biography to share.
Mary Wear What She Wants
Written and Illustrated by Keith Negley
This is the kind of book that makes you laugh and think and close it and rush to your nearest friend to insist they read it too. Or at least that’s what it made me do at the bookstore before I happily added it to my must-own pile to bring home. It is a story based on Mary Walker, one of the first women to wear pants. Her defiant spunk is well captured on the pages. It is also a brilliant example of the marrying of text and illustrations on the page to tell a story and heighten humor. A well crafted tale of an awesome woman to inspire the little people in your life to stand up and think for themselves.
Also Read:
Women in Space Storytime
Rosie: Stronger than Steel
by Lindsay Ward
Told from the perspective of a tractor made during World War II, this tells the story of women building and farming in the US and Europe to support the war efforts. I knew little about this vital role women played during the war before reading this book. It is engaging, beautiful but also highly informative. It reads like fiction but conveys significant history. This is the kind of book that defies expectations and questions your assumptions. A delightful read.
Our Flag Was Still There
by Jessie Hartland
This is the true story of Mary Pickersgill and the Star-Spangled Banner. The name Betsy Ross was always associated with the Star-Spangled Flag in my history lessons, but this is the story of another woman who was put in charge of creating the largest American flag that is still on display in the Smithsonian National Museum today and was the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the American anthem. It was an immense undertaking and her story is shared on these vibrant pages.
Want Even More? Here are more booklists for you!
- Ultimate List of Children’s Books about Amazing Women from My Storytime Corner
- Girl Power Series on Babies to Bookworms
- Books for Women’s History Month on Crafty Moms Share
- Books the Celebrate Women Heroes from Mosswood Connections
- Girl Power! Best Books about Strong Women from Happily Ever Elephants
- Children’s Books about Women in Politics and Women Activists from What We Do All Day
- Picture Books about Great Women Your Children Need to Know from Mama Smiles
- Books for Kids about Females Historical Figures from Great Family Reads
Activities for Women’s History Month
Here are some activities to do with kids after you read!
- Make art inspired by one (or more) of the Women Artists in the book Women Artists A to Z by Melanie LaBarge.
- Famous Women in History Guess Who? from Adventure in a Box, she also has a related Coloring Page and Printable Paper Dolls
- Frida Kahlo DIY Succulent Planter from The Craft Train
- Record Your Family’s Women’s History from Mama Smiles
