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I’ve already shared that I try not to overthink what my children read, but sometimes I do.  Are they reading enough [people who don’t look like them]?  That’s something I do consider, and I do consciously suggest books by women, and books by and about BIPOC to my white, male children so they can spend those pages with a friend whose lived experience is not the same as theirs.  I try to suggest and not overthink it, and I’m excited to start  Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy To Your Life by Anne Bogel so I can overthink fewer and fewer things!  If you’d like to join in the conversation on Friday, March 26th at 7:30 p.m. CST,  sign up here to get the link in your inbox!

And for your reading pleasure, we have an extra Virtual Book Club announcement today!  After we discuss Bogel’s latest book, we’ll gather on Friday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. CST to discuss Neil Gaiman’s American Gods (which, as of this typing, was on sale for $2.99 for the kindle edition and we one-clicked quite quickly).  Happy reading!

When we were considering what to bring you for Women’s History Month, we knew that needed to include titles for the young readers in your life.  I don’t remember the specifics on a lot of books I read when I was younger, but I remember having a conversation with my school librarian about Christy by Catherine Marshall.  Originally published in 1967, this title feels like the inspiration for When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke, which was published in 1983, or maybe Elizabeth’s story is just the Canadian version.  (The Hallmark television show by the same name starts very similarly, then deviates significantly, though both are a joy.)  My personal favorite heroine from my younger years is Alanna, of Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness series.  For some reason I only read the first two books when I was younger, but a few years ago I revisited these books and consumed them, along with most of the other books in Pierce’s Tortall Universe.  While these Pierce’s books are very different from those of Marshall and Oke, they have similar themes of young women believing in themselves and their ability to realize their dreams, persevere, and generally live their best lives even when they were told to stay at home and be good young ladies.  Oke and Marshall’s teachers adhere to convention much more than the women of Tortall, but if we’re going to launch into a fantasy world, then I’m here for shooting for the moon, and Alanna does, along with Daine, Keladry, and Aly.  

We would be remiss if we didn’t include Nancy Drew in our discussion.  She was ahead of her time in openly leading the boys, solving mysteries, and generally making things happen.  While Nancy appeared on the scene three years after the Hardy Boys, she’s definitely not least in our book.  It’s much easier to be what you can see and even in 1930, Grosset & Dunlap and a series of writers knew it was worth Nancy’s stories worth it, and generations of women are so grateful to join in Nancy’s adventures.  For younger readers, or those who like a bit more fantasy with their mysteries, Thea Stilton might be a nice pick.  Thea and her uncle Geronimo are well loved characters in my house, especially by my six-year-old.  He is indisposed for hours after he brings a new title home, only to be interrupted by parental demands that he eat or bathe.  Superheroes are also a hit at my house, and I was delighted when my boys picked out a couple of titles from the DC Super Hero Girls series (and then asked for more).  I read one with them, and while they do feel like high school to me, they’re still accessible to my elementary aged children as the themes are about friendship and acceptance, at least in the couple they have read.  

I would feel remiss without mentioning a few titles that are favorites at my house, either for me, my people or both, so here they are:

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, and subsequent titles in the series
• Wizards of Once series by Cressida Cowell tracks the adventures of Wish (female) and Xar (male) and my nine-year-old and I are looking forward to reading the last book to see how it ends.
• The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla Benko is a series my nine-year-old is currently consuming about two sisters adventuring in a land of magic.
• To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer is a modern epistolary tale of tweens coming to terms with their dads dating while at camp together.  

I’m curious dear readers, what books by and about female characters pulled you in as a young reader?  What titles from back when still speak to you today?

~Nikki 

Darling Readers, it seems that I am happily discussing some of my favorite feminist writings, baby board books and picture books for young readers. I happen to be the BAE to several young humans, that’s Best Aunt Ever if you couldn’t figure that out from context clues, and I have made it my goal and honor as the BAE to provide reading material for all of these smol humans. Here is a not overly extensive list starting from age Zero:

Feminist Baby, Feminist Baby: He’s a Feminist, Too!, and Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice by Loryn Brantz – three brightly colored, short sentenced, board book choices for the newest feminists in your life. Just be warned, feminist baby says no to pants in book one.

The Questioneers Picture Books Series features five young characters, the female focused books being Rosie Revere, Engineer, Ada Twist, Scientist, and Sofia Valdez, Future Prez. All of them are written by Andrea Beatty and illustrated by David Roberts.

Other picture book series that do not focus solely on women’s history topics include: the 67 book Little People, Big Dreams Series, the 23 book Ordinary People Change the World Series, the 98 book My Early Library: My Itty-Bitty Bio Series, and the ever-popular 191 book Who Was? Series.

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History, She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game is a series of three picture books written by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. “In early 2017, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s refusal to be silenced in the Senate inspired a spontaneous celebration of women who persevered in the face of adversity.” These books are a collection of stories of women past and present who have done just that, persisted.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2, and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World, and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic (pre-order for the September 28, 2021 release) are a series of books compiling the stories of 400 remarkable women from past and present that are sure to inspire the newest generation of Rebel Girls. Each book is authored, illustrated, and edited by women. There is also a collection of five chapter books for those young readers that are reading on their own. I absolutely love the Rebel Girl mission statement, and want to share it here if you’re interested in supporting their mission by purchasing directly from their website for Rebel Girl books, apparel, and stationary. There are also a podcast and many free resources and activities for girls of all ages. 

As a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of the USA I have a passion for books, media, and other organizations that promote the past, present, and future of women and girls all over the world. If you have favorite women empowering books or organizations you love, please share them with us in the comments.

~Ashley

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