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It’s Women’s History Month and a time to celebrate female empowerment around the world — and one good way to introduce kids to the holiday is to read books starring historical role models.
Little Golden Books, the Random House imprint created in 1942, has you covered with stories about leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, and country music star and philanthropist Dolly Parton.
Our list of must-have reading material is affordable, with all books costing less than $6, highlights each subject’s most important milestones in simple phrases, and is an easy introduction to biographies, which allow better comprehension of a protagonist’s personal life. For example, kids will learn that actress and animal lover Betty White wished to become a zookeeper as a child and that Mexican artist Frida Kahlo once snuck a donkey into school as a prank.
And it’s not just little girls who benefit from books that support feminist contributions — according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, before the age of 5, all kids understand gender stereotypes, and a study published in Journal of Adolescent Health said that by the time a child turn 10, he or she believes that “girls are vulnerable and boys are strong and independent,” study author Robert Blum of Johns Hopkins University, told ScienceDaily. “And this message is being constantly reinforced at almost every turn, by siblings, classmates, teachers, parents, guardians, relatives, clergy and coaches.”
So if parents can discourage that thinking early on while also encouraging reading habits, let’s celebrate that. Read on for nine inspiring titles to introduce your kids to — this month and every month!
