Quarto Kids | 1 March 2020

March Book List: 10 Books about Inspirational Women

The month of March is reserved for observing the contributions of notable and everyday women. Women’s History Month commemorates these contributions and encourages the celebration of women in history. Here is our list of books about influential women throughout history.


Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison (Work It, Girl!)
By Caroline Moss
Illustrated by Sinem Erkas
Ages 8-12, Hardcover


When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she loved science, dancing, and dinosaurs. She watched the Apollo moon landings and wondered why none of the astronauts were women—and she just didn’t buy the answers she was given…Discover how Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.


My First Dolly Parton (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Daria Solak
Ages 0-3, Board book


Little Dolly grew up in Tennessee in a family “as poor as dirt.” She started performing at an early age, singing on local radio and television. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her singing dreams. Her managers wanted her to sing pop, but she followed her heart to sing and write country songs. Her heart was right—Dolly became a musical superstar, but she never forgot where she came from. She now uses her wealth to give back to people, children, and animals in need. Babies and toddlers will love to snuggle as you read to them the engaging story of this fascinating musician and will also enjoy exploring the stylish and quirky illustrations of this sturdy board book on their own.


Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo
By Lucy Brownridge
Illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann
Ages 7-10, Hardcover


Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter and today is one of the world’s favourite artists. As a child, she was badly affected by polio, and later suffered a terrible accident that left her disabled and in pain. Shortly after this accident, Kahlo took up painting, and through her surreal, symbolic self portraits described the pain she suffered, as well as the treatment of women, and her sadness at not being able to have a child. This book tells the story of Frida Kahlo’s life through her own artworks, and shows how she came to create some of the most famous paintings in the world. Learn about her difficult childhood, her love affair with fellow painter Diego Rivera, and the lasting impact her surreal work had on the history of art in this book that brings her life to work.


Zaha Hadid (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Asun Amar
Ages 4-7, Hardcover


Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, surrounded by music. She was a curious and confident child, who designed her own modernist bedroom at nine years old. As a young woman studying at University in Beirut, she was described as the most outstanding pupil the teacher had ever met. With her spectacular vision and belief in the power of architecture, she founded her own firm and designed some of the most outstanding buildings in the world—including the London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the architect’s life.


Brilliant Ideas From Wonderful Women
By Aitziber Lopez
Illustrated by Luciano Lozano
Ages 5-7, Hardcover


Car heaters…Monopoly…Disposable diapers…The dishwasher…Kevlar…Maritime flares… Anti-reflective glass…Wifi…Syringes…Submarine periscopes…Diagnostic tests…Lifeboats…Windshield wipers…Ebooks…What do each of these revolutionary inventions have in common? They were all pioneered by women! Each brilliant idea is presented with biographical information about the brilliant woman who came up with it, including what inspired them. Learn how Martha Coston disguised herself as a man to contact pyrotechnicians and convince them to manufacture her idea for maritime flares, how a New York tram ride on a wet winter’s day led Mary Anderson to invent the windshield wiper, and why Letitia Mumford Geer’s one-hand operated syringe was a medical breakthrough, among other fascinating facts. Full-page illustrations show the inspiration for and use of these incredible inventions in humorous detail.


Become a Leader Like Michelle Obama (Work It, Girl!)
By Caroline Moss
Illustrated by Sinem Erkas
Ages 8-12, Hardcover


Michelle Obama grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a little bungalow with a close-knit family. She loved going to school, and she knew that, one day, she would use her voice to empower other young girls, just like her. Young Michelle was a brilliant student and wonderful daughter. With hard work and talent, she propelled herself into the universities of Princeton and Harvard. She qualified as a lawyer and life was going smoothly…Then she met a guy named Barack. Discover how Michelle became an inspirational leader, FLOTUS, lawyer, author, and role model in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.


Maria Montessori (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Raquel Martín
Ages 4-7, Hardcover


Maria grew up in Italy at a time when girls didn’t receive an equal education to boys. But Maria’s mother was supportive of her dreams, and Maria went on to study medicine. She later became an early childhood expert—founding schools with her revolutionary educational theories and changing the lives of many children. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the educator’s life


Portrait of an Artist: Georgia O’Keeffe
By Lucy Brownridge
Illustrated by Alice Wietzel
Ages 7-10, Hardcover


Georgia O’Keeffe is known as the Mother of American Modernism, discover why in this first story book about Georgia O’Keeffe. From humble beginnings living on a prairie farm, to taking the New York art scene by storm, to living a solitary life in the New Mexican desert, find out how Georgia’s extraordinary life unfolded and how each place changed the ways her paintings came out. See how her life shaped her much loved masterpieces and find out why she is such an important figure in the history of art. An O’Keeffe masterpiece is featured on every spread. This art story also includes a closer look at 10 of O’Keeffe’s masterpieces at the back.


Ella Queen of Jazz
Written and illustrated by Helen Hancocks
Ages 4-8, Hardcover


Ella Fitzgerald sang the blues and she sang them good. Ella and her fellas were on the way up! It seemed like nothing could stop her, until the biggest club in town refused to let her play… and all because of her colour. But when all hope seemed lost, little did Ella imagine that a Hollywood star would step in to help. This is the incredible true story of how a remarkable friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe was born – and how they worked together to overcome prejudice and adversity. An inspiring story, strikingly illustrated, about the unlikely friendship between two celebrated female icons of America’s golden age.


Jane Goodall (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Beatrice Cerocchi
Ages 4-7, Hardcover


When Jane was little, her father gave her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. This inspired her lifelong love of animals, and she went to study them in the wild as soon as she could. Jane lived with chimpanzees in their natural habitat and became famous for her pioneering approach to research. She now educates the public on animal rights. This moving book features stylish illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the primatologist’s life.


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