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Whether in civil rights, science, or the arts, there are countless women who have made history and have impacted the world in incredible ways. These non-fiction books feature and celebrate powerful women in history. Check them out to see how each woman changed the world! 
Susie King Taylor

Nurse, Teacher & Freedom Fighter

From the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Never Caught and She Came to Slay comes a vibrant middle grade biography of Susie King Taylor, one of the first Black Civil War nurses, in a new series spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history.

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Kin

Rooted in Hope

A Coretta Scott King Honor Book

An “imaginative and moving” (The Horn Book, starred review) portrait of a Black family tree shaped by enslavement and freedom, rendered in searing poems by acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford and stunning art by her son Jeffery Boston Weatherford.

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A Curious Mind and a Very Big Heart

The Story of Designer and Innovator Sara Little Turnbull

Illustrated by Aura Lewis

Meet the girl with a big heart and a bigger imagination who grew up to be an innovative international designer in this illuminating nonfiction picture book biography.

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On Her Wings

The Story of Toni Morrison

Illustrated by James E. Ransome

Discover the early life and legacy of groundbreaking American writer Toni Morrison in this beautifully illustrated and “awe-inspiring” (School Library Journal, starred review) nonfiction picture book biography.

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Dressing Up the Stars

The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head

Discover the true story of how a shy miner’s daughter became one of the most legendary costume designers in Hollywood in this inspiring nonfiction picture book biography.

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Love Is Loud

How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement

Four starred reviews!

Meet Diane Nash, a civil rights leader who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, in this “poignant and powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) nonfiction picture book that is “a stunning, little-known story, and a welcome volume” (School Library Journal, starred review) that “highlights major moments in Nash’s life” (The Horn Book, starred review).

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Born Reading

20 Stories of Women Reading Their Way into History

Once books kick-start their brains, girls change history. Discover the foundation of reading that empowered some of the world’s most influential women in this informative and inspirational illustrated middle grade collection of twenty biographies.

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We're in This Together

A Young Readers Edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders

An inspiring and empowering young readers edition of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders, the memoir by Women’s March coorganizer and activist Linda Sarsour.

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Once I Was You -- Adapted for Young Readers

Finding My Voice and Passing the Mic

Emmy Award and Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Maria Hinojosa has created a brand-new, unique version of her adult memoir, which was an NPR Best Book of 2020, for young readers, blending her story with perspectives on history in the vein of Jason Reynolds’s Stamped.

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Bold Words from Black Women

Inspiration and Truths from 50 Extraordinary Leaders Who Helped Shape Our World

Illustrated by Monica Ahanonu

Celebrate the power of Black womanhood in this first-of-its-kind collection of inspirational quotes from fifty activists, artists, and leaders, featuring bold, attention-grabbing illustrations—perfect for readers of Herstory and Little Leaders.

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Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge

George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away; Young Readers Edition

A National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, Never Caught is the eye-opening narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington’s runaway slave, who risked everything for a better life—now available as a young reader’s edition!

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Life in Motion

An Unlikely Ballerina Young Readers Edition

A bestselling and prize-winning memoir by African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, Life in Motion is the vividly told story of her journey to the world-class American Ballet Theatre—and delves into the harrowing family conflicts that nearly drove her away from ballet as a thirteen-year-old prodigy.

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Girls Who Rocked the World

Heroines from Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa

This fun and inspiring collection of influential stories provides forty-six illustrated examples of strong, independent female role models, all of whom first impacted the world as teenagers or younger.

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Harriet Tubman
Illustrated by Robert Brown

One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily read by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history.

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Limitless

24 Remarkable American Women of Vision, Grit, and Guts

Illustrated by Leah Tinari

In the spirit of She Persisted, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, and Rad American A-Z, acclaimed artist Leah Tinari offers a spectacular collection of portraits, celebrating iconic, inspirational, and groundbreaking American women.

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Fly Girls

The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII

In the tradition of Hidden Figures, debut author Patricia Pearson offers a beautifully written account of the remarkable but often forgotten group of female fighter pilots who answered their country’s call in its time of need during World War II.

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Amelia Earhart

Young Aviator

Illustrated by Meryl Henderson

Using simple language that beginning readers can understand, this lively, inspiring, and believable biography looks at the childhood of Amelia Earhart. Illustrated throughout.

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Reaching for the Moon

The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson

The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.

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Herstory

50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World

Illustrated by Sarah Walsh

Celebrate fifty inspiring and powerful women who changed the world and left their mark in this lavishly illustrated biography compilation that’s perfect for fans of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and She Persisted.

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Black Ballerinas

My Journey to Our Legacy

Illustrated by Salena Barnes

From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland comes an illustrated nonfiction collection celebrating dancers of color who have influenced her on and off the stage.

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Try It!

How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat

Illustrated by Giselle Potter

Meet fearless Frieda Caplan—the produce pioneer who changed the way Americans eat by introducing exciting new fruits and vegetables, from baby carrots to blood oranges to kiwis—in this brightly illustrated nonfiction picture book!

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Jump at the Sun

The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston

From the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature.

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Elizabeth Warren's Big, Bold Plans

Discover the inspiring story of Senator Elizabeth Warren and her lifelong commitment to working hard and advocating for equality in this compelling and accessible picture book biography.

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Counting the Stars

The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician

Illustrated by Raúl Colón

“A detail-rich picture book.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Straightforward and inviting.” —School Library Journal

From award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome and acclaimed illustrator Raúl Colón comes the sensitive, informative, and inspiring picture book biography of the remarkable mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA “human computers” whose work was critical to the first US space launch.

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Born Curious

20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists

Illustrated by Katy Wu

“An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus tenacity equals success.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[A] captivating compendium.” —Publishers Weekly

Discover the histories of twenty incredible female scientists in this inspiring biography collection from beloved author Martha Freeman and Google Doodler Katy Wu.

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I'm Gonna Push Through!
Illustrated by Shannon Wright

Based on the Push Through movement that inspires kids worldwide, this is an empowering, energetic, and all-inclusive picture book that celebrates resilience in the face of adversity.

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Muslim Girls Rise

Inspirational Champions of Our Time

Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

Little Leaders meets Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls in this gorgeous nonfiction picture book that introduces readers to nineteen powerhouse Muslim women who rose up and made their voices heard.

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The Power of Her Pen

The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne

Illustrated by John Parra

“A powerful story.” —The Horn Book

“A worthy addition to children’s biography collections.” —Booklist

“A solid treatment of an important but little-known figure, and it may prompt kids to think about the role and composition of a free press.” —BCCB

“Cline-Ransome tells [Ethel Payne’s] story with economy and drive. ‘Somebody had to do the fighting,’ she quotes Payne saying, ‘somebody had to speak up.’” —Publishers Weekly

Renowned author Lesa Cline-Ransome and celebrated illustrator John Parra unite to tell the inspiring story of Ethel Payne, a groundbreaking African American journalist known as the First Lady of the Black Press.

Equality's Call

The Story of Voting Rights in America

Illustrated by Magdalena Mora

Learn all about the history of voting rights in the United States—from our nation’s founding to the present day—in this powerful picture book from the New York Times bestselling author of The Pout-Pout Fish.

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The Only Woman in the Photo

Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America

Illustrated by Alexandra Bye

Discover the incredible life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, in this fascinating picture book biography that’s perfect for fans of I Dissent.

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Parker Looks Up

An Extraordinary Moment

A New York Times bestseller!

A visit to Washington, DC’s National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry’s young life when she views First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait.

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This Little Trailblazer

A Girl Power Primer

Illustrated by Daniel Roode

Learn all about influential women who changed history in this engaging and colorful board book perfect for trailblazers-in-training!

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The Youngest Marcher

The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist

Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this moving picture book that proves you’re never too little to make a difference.

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Pocket Full of Colors

The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire

Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Brigette Barrager team up to tell the joyful and unique story of the trailblazing Disney artist Mary Blair.

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I Dissent

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable!

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The World Is Not a Rectangle

A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid

Illustrated by Jeanette Winter

A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017
Parents’ Choice Recommended

Get to know Zaha Hadid in this nonfiction picture book about the famed architect’s life and her triumph over adversity from celebrated author-illustrator Jeanette Winter.

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Game Changers

The Story of Venus and Serena Williams

An ALA Notable Book

“Every page is splashed with vibrant color and eye-catching patterns, and the figures of the women themselves are full of energy, speed, and tension.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Venus and Serena Williams are two of the greatest tennis players of all time. Some say they’re two of the greatest athletes of all time. Before they were world famous, they were little girls with big dreams.

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The Flying Girl

How Aida de Acosta Learned to Soar

Illustrated by Sara Palacios

In this beautiful picture book filled with soaring words and buoyant illustrations, award-winners Margarita Engle and Sara Palacios tell the inspiring true story of Aída de Acosta, the first woman to fly a motorized aircraft.

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How to Build a Hug

Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze Machine

Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Giselle Potter come together to tell the inspiring story of autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin and her brilliant invention: the hug machine.

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Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dreams Taking Flight

Illustrated by Amy June Bates

The beautifully illustrated picture book about Hillary Clinton—now revised and updated with brand-new material about her time as Secretary of State.

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