eNewsletter
Women’s History Month is upon us!
In the United States, we celebrate the contributions of women throughout our history every year during the month of March, and International Women’s Day on March 8th. Women all over the world have made significant and vital contributions to the fields of art, science, math, etc., creating lasting change that has directly affected the way we live our lives today.
As a way to celebrate Women’s History Month, please check out these new children’s books at YPL, all commemorating women throughout history who lived their lives in the pursuit of knowledge, creativity, education, equality, and justice, effectively rising above the confines in which society tried to keep them.
Happy Reading!
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All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson by Carole Boston Weatherford
Ketanji Brown Jackson made history when she became the first Black female associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. This inspiring picture book biography follows her journey from bright young child who understood the power of learning, to the time of her appointment by President Joe Biden in 2022. -
The Art and Life of Hilma Af Klint by Ylva Hillström & Karin Eklund
This picture book biography traces the strange, spiritual life of little known artist, Hilma Af Klint, the Swedish woman who was painting abstract art long before Wassily Kandinsky, the man who has long received credit for its creation. -
Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson, Patriot Soldier by Beth Andersen
At 18, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man to fight in George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution. This picture book biography sheds light on the life of an American hero with whom most likely aren’t familiar. -
Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary by Jill Doerfler & Matthew J. Martinez
In 2021, Deb Haaland became the first Indigenous cabinet secretary in history. In her role as Secretary of the Interior, Haaland has championed climate and the rights of Native peoples. Learn about Haaland’s early life, political career, and more in this nonfiction title. -
The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of by Kristen W. Larson
This stunning picture book biography traces the life of Cecilia Payne, the woman who discovered what stars are actually made of, by drawing a beautiful comparison between her timeline and the birth of a star. -
Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar: The Musical Story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Rosetta Tharpe received her first guitar from her mother at a young age, and practiced until she could play like no one else the world had ever heard. This picture book biography follows her life, noting that rock and roll stars like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash were influenced by her artistry. -
Malala Yousafzai by Stephanie Gaston
Malala knew the dangers of speaking out against the Taliban after they closed schools for girls in Pakistan, her home country, but she spoke out anyway. She continued to speak out after she was shot by a gunman on her way home from school. This biography for young readers highlights the incredible bravery of a young woman who continues to stand strong in her convictions, inspiring young people all over the world. -
Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change by Tameka Fryer Brown
This picture book biography traces the life of Shirley Chisolm, a trailblazer from Brooklyn who put her all into everything she set out to accomplish. With her fierce spirit and determination, she went on to become Brooklyn’s first Black assemblywoman, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and the first woman and African American to seriously run for the office of US president. -
She Persisted: Maya Lin by Grace Lin
Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted series continues with a chapter book biography of Maya Lin, the creator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. While many people objected to her gender, age, race, and more when she was chosen to design the memorial, she persisted. Her design stands out today as one of the most memorable monuments in the country. -
She Persisted: Rosalind Franklin by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Rosalind Franklin loved science, but when she was young, there were very few female scientists. Still, she persisted in pursuing her dreams, becoming a scientist and playing a key role in the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA (what we’re all made up of). Though her male colleagues took credit for her work at the time, we now know just how important her discoveries were in learning what our DNA looks like and how it works! -
Sisters in Science: Maria Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall & Anna and Elena Balbusso
This nonfiction picture book follows the extraordinary lives of two-time Nobel prize-winning scientist, Marie Curie, and her sister, Bronia. They supported one another through their schooling and throughout their lives with the ultimate goal of learning all they could to help people.