It’s Women’s History Month right now, the perfect time to celebrate the many revolutionary women who have changed the world. In this list, I’ve selected 16 of the best picture book biographies for women’s history month.
The best picture book biographies introduce children to the person they might want to become one day. For girls, this is particularly important, as they can see female role models who exemplify courage, innovation, kindness, creativity, and other qualities in fields that are often male-dominated. Now more than ever, new picture books celebrate diverse female leaders whose stories have been overlooked, elevating their stories into the spotlight. This list showcases 16 great recent picture book biographies by and about trailblazing women—get ready to inspire the young reader in your life.
Note: This post was adapted from my article on Book Riot, “10 of the Best Picture Book Biographies”
16 Must-Read Picture Books for Women’s History Month
The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Ellen Ochoa by Julia Finlay Mosca, Illus. by Daniel Rieley
The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars tells the inspiring story of astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to go into space. Initially set on becoming a flutist, Dr. Ochoa switched gears in college, studying engineering. Later, Dr. Ochoa went on to become the Director of the Johnson Space Center. This picture book is a perfect celebration of Dr. Ochoa, her drive, and her accomplishments, all of which she achieved while overcoming sexism, racism, and institutionalized bias against women in science.
How to read it: Purchase The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter by Christine Evans, Illus. by Yasmin Imamura
Get ready for your young reader to start looking at bugs another way after reading Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist. This charming picture book biography profiles Evelyn Chessman, who scoffed at the prim and pretty expectations for girls in the late 19th Century and indulged in her passion for insects. Chessman became a pioneer in entomology—the study of insects—later heading up the London Zoo’s insect house. Chessman acquired more than 70,000 insect specimens from remote and far-flung places in eight solo expeditions. Check out the book to get the full and fully amazing story of Evelyn Chessman.
How to read it: Purchase Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, Illus. by John Parra
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, Monica Brown’s acclaimed biography of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, creates an entryway into the revolutionary painter’s life by building on Kahlo’s love for animals. Over the years, Kahlo kept several pets including a black cat, a parrot, two monkeys, a fawn, turkeys, and even an eagle. Brown juxtaposes the “animalitos” alongside Kahlo, showing how she exemplified some of their qualities. This picture book also details how Kahlo’s interest in Mexican and Aztec culture and history weaved into her art and love for animals.
How to read it: Purchase Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illus. James E. Ransome
I definitely wanted to include athletes in this list of picture book biographies for women’s history month, and certainly the iconic sisters Venus and Serena Williams are athletes for the ages. In Game Changers, Lesa Cline-Ransome lets readers into the lives of these the Williams sisters, immersing us in their early training and ascent to the top of tennis. Cline-Ransome doesn’t shy away from the discrimination Venus and Serena faced as people of color, and instead shows how the sisters changed the conversation with their once-in-a-generation skills.
How to read it: Purchase Game Changers on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca and Daniel Rieley
A champion of neurodiversity, Dr. Temple Grandin received her autism diagnosis young. In The Girl Who Thought in Pictures, Julia Finley Mosca dials into Temple’s childhood as a young neurodiverse person, one whose creative thinking led to world-changing insights and discoveries. Mosca celebrates Grandin’s divergent thinking while also helping readers understand the stress of sensory overload and physical contact. The playfully rhyming text is catchy and fun, perfect for readers who enjoy rhythm in their picture books.
How to read it: Purchase The Girl Who Thought in Pictures on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan, Illus. Sarah Walsh
Herstory is a longer picture book for children 8 and up that highlights the accomplishments of a diverse cast of 50 women and girls who revolutionized the world. With a global approach, author Katherine Halligan features well-known leaders, like Marie Curie and Elizabeth I, and women and girls like Mirabai and Shirin Ebodi, whose necessary stories might be new to readers young and old. One thing I love about this picture book is how Halligan’s organized her sections into what her subjects achieved: “Believe & Lead,” “Imagine & Create,” “Help & Heal,” “Think & Solve,” and “Hope & Overcome.” This gathers a diverse cast of women across disciplines and fields together.
How to read it: Purchase Herstory on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez, Illus. by Felicita Sala
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor…How can you not love the title of this picture book biography? And I’m pleased to say it’s just as good a read! Vibrant illustrations by Felicita Sala bring to life this picture book biography of Joan Procter, the first female curator of the Reptile House at the London zoo during the early 20th century. Sala uses an unusual color palate that gives the story a muted, vintage glow. The line work done by colored pencils skirt the line between simplistic and cartoonish but are rich, complex, and accessible. Patricia Valdez’s text works with Sala’s illustrations to revive the forgotten story of a notable, influential female scientist who dared to tango with reptiles.
How to read it: Purchase Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Mary Blair’s Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One of Disney’s Legends by Amy Novesky, Illus. by Brittney Lee
Mary Blair’s Unique Flair does justice to this astonishing woman. Born Mary Browne Robinson took an early interest in art—no surprise, perhaps, given her name contains a color! As a young artist and animator at Walt Disney Studios, where she led conceptual art for Disney’s classic mid-century films like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. Brittney Lee’s illustrations pop while Amy Novesky’s text brings Blair’s remarkable story to life. Don’t be surprised if this picture book sparks a curiosity for art in your young reader!
How to read it: Purchase Mary Blair’s Unique Flair on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Illus. by Oge Mora
I read this picture book for my third semester of my MFA in kid lit program, and I can happily say it is a delight and one of the must-read picture book biographies for women’s history month. The Oldest Student spotlights Mary Walker, who as a child born into slavery never learned to read. Later in life, Walker became a literacy role model when she mastered the skill at age 116. The Oldest Student is a great book for women’s history month and might be an especially good choice for reluctant readers, neurodivergent kids, and anyone working to overcome challenges.
How to read it: Purchase The Oldest Student on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Annika Aldamuy Denise, Illus. by Paola Escobar
Introduce children to the power of libraries—and the bold, compassionate librarians who lead them—with Planting Stories. This diverse picture book biography illuminates New York Public Library’s first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré. After her immigration to America in 1921, Bulpré took a job in New York City’s public library system, advocating for bilingual materials and leading inclusive story times. Kids reading Planting Stories will appreciate the ways that libraries are vital resources for communities. Planting Stories weaves in Spanish language, and a Spanish edition is also available.
How to read it: Purchase Planting Stories on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, Illus. Marta Alvarez Miguens
Aquariums are wondrous places, especially for children who are captivated by the surreal scenes and mysterious creatures drifting through the water. For Japanese American Eugenie Clark, seeing a shark tank was a formative experience. From that day on, Clark was obsessed with sharks. At a time when a career in science was largely limited to men, Clark became an ichthyologist (a scientist who specializes in fish) and gathered crucial research on sharks. Known as “Shark Lady,” Clark helped establish methods of scuba diving for research. In Shark Lady, readers learn of Clark’s background and career, including her efforts to promote marine conservation.
How to read it: Purchase Shark Lady on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton and Felicita Sala
Since this is a book blog, you know I had to include at least one author in this list of picture book biographies for women’s history month. The legendary origins of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are brought to life in this excellent picture book biography. With Sala’s moody, atmospheric illustrations, Fulton sets the stage for the now-famous contest when poet Lord Byron challenged other writers to create a ghost story. In She Made a Monster, Fulton teases out the threads of influence that Mary Shelley would draw on to craft her chilling tale, an early work of science fiction and horror. Here we see Shelley yearning to live up to her mother, an acclaimed feminist, and her father, a notable author.
How to read it: Purchase She Made a Monster on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Turning Pages by Sonia Sotomayor, Illus. by Lulu Delacre
I’ll never forget when I heard that Sonia Sotomayor had been named to the Supreme Court. The first Hispanic and Latina justice on the Supreme Court, Sotomayor is also one of only four women to serve as Justice on the Court’s history. The announcement that her nomination was confirmed gave me hope that we will see more diverse leaders shaping the country. In Turning Pages, Justice Sotomayor tells the story of her personal journey to get to the Supreme Court. Turning Pages empowers kids to see how they can take their earliest steps on a path to a place where they break barriers.
How to read it: Purchase Turning Pages on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illus. by Ekua Holmes
A Caldecott Honor Book, Voice of Freedom tells the story of Fannie Lou Hamer, a Civil Rights leader. Hamer played a crucial role in the Freedom Summer of 1964 and gave an influential, televised speech at the 19654 Democratic National Convention to raise awareness of the Freedom Democrats, which she helped found. Weatherford’s poetic writing is expertly paired to Ekua Holmes’s vibrant mixed media illustration.
How to read it: Purchase Voice of Freedom on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter
The first time I visited the Guggenheim Museum was a mind-bending experience. Seeing the breathtaking designs of the late Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid made me reconsider the way I see the world. In The World Is Not a Rectangle, Jeanette Winter introduces young readers to the remarkable life and work of this visionary artist. Winter charts how the sights of Hadid’s childhood—Persian carpet design, Iraqi landscapes, and more—made an impression on Hadid and shaped her style as she blossomed into a leading architect. This Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017 also addresses the skepticism and doubt Hadid faced as a Muslim woman in a white male-dominated industry.
How to read it: Purchase The World Is Not a Rectangle on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity! By Sarah Suzuki, Illus. by Ellen Weinstein
And now for one last entry in this list of picture book biographies for women’s history month… In this vivid picture book biography of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is authored by Sarah Suzuki, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art. On one pivotal day of her childhood in Japan, Kusama had a striking vision that the entire world was covered in polka dots. Influenced by Abstract impressionism, Kusuma later studied art, developing her look. Working with dots became her signature in a long career that has spanned everything from painting to poetry and performance art. In From Here to Infinity, readers are treated to Suzuki’s expert take on Kusama’s life, with punchy illustrations by Ellen Weinstein.
How to read it: Purchase Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity! on Amazon and add it on Goodreads
Want more of the best kid lit recommendations? Check out these articles on Broke by Books for more children’s literature coverage:
