Stories of Bold Women and Girls
Women shape the world. With the wonder of reading, we can share stories about strong women and girls to inspire the next generation.
Stop and look around. Every day and everywhere, we’re surrounded by the work, art, and influence of strong women and girls. The world has been shaped by women. When we reflect on how powerful girls really are, we can inspire the next generation to achieve their dreams.
It’s crucial that we recognize that some girls around aren’t afforded equal rights and a promise to keep striving for better – not just for the sake of girls, but for the businesses, households, communities, schools, and governments they’ll improve when given the opportunity. That’s why reading about the stories and accomplishments of women is important to spark change and confidence.
What do bold girls and women look like?
As we think about what it means to be clothed in boldness, it’s important to note that it’s not one size fits all. It looks different for every woman and girl who steps into it. Sometimes it looks like leading the pack, while other times it looks like racing to the back of the line. It means facing challenges with ferocity, but being fearful and doing it anyway – that’s boldness as well.
It doesn’t have to be something we’re born with. It can be something we practice intentionally, and something we learn from inspiring people around us. We’re sharing books about influential women and girls so that young readers are empowered to live out bold stories of their own.
Our BookSmart app gets children around the world reading consistently – a game-changer that sets them on a path to educational success. With reading, girls can become changemakers in their community. And we have the perfect books to inspire them.
Learn about Rosa Parks, who by simply sitting down took a stand against prejudice and racism in her country. Meet Zanele Situ, a world-renowned athlete whose disability only motivated her to work harder and push further. Discover the stories of these strong women and dozens more for free on our BookSmart app.
The Visible Girls by Tyronah Sioni
Published by Voices of Future Generations
Ages 6-8
Sine, a brave and creative little girl, is not afraid to stand against violence. She learns how to speak up and brings her whole community together to defend girls’ and women’s rights.
► Meet Sine here.
► Leer en español aquí.
Art for All by Olivia Wood
Published by Worldreader Ashoka
Ages 6-8
Art for All is inspired by the true story of a young girl in Egypt who noticed that the refugees in her community sometimes had difficulty in adjusting to their new home. She wanted everyone to feel welcome and to have the chance to be happy! Determined to take action, she used her love of art to help everyone feel at home in the community.
► Meet Amira here.
► Leer en español aquí.
Zanele Situ: My Story by Jesse Breytenbach, Andy Thesen, and Liz Sparg
Published by Book Dash
Ages 6-8
As a young girl, Zanele Situ was told that she would never walk again. Being in a wheelchair did not stop her. She worked and trained hard and became a winning athlete on the world stage. This is her story.
► Meet Zanele here.
Women in Tech: Inspiration, No Fairy Tales by Sarah Berning, Anuradha Sharma, Sarah Klein, Larisa Akrofie, Thalia Rahme, Sonja Peteranderl
Published by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Ages 9-12
This book tells the exciting stories of real women who have overcome huge challenges to establish their place in the tech industry, where women are still seriously underrepresented. These role models — inventors, scientists, web designers, managers, and net activists — can inspire young women and girls and encourage them to explore possible career paths in tech.
► Meet the women in tech here.
Rosa’s Bus by Jo. S Kittinger
Published by Calkins Creek (Astra Publishing House)
Ages 6-8
Here is the remarkable story of Bus #2857 and its passengers, including Rosa Parks, who changed history in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955.
► Meet Rosa Parks here.
The White Dolphin by Written by Zhuo Meng-Xin
Published by Voices of Future Generations
Ages 6-8
When a little girl who loves animals listens to a white dolphin, she learns that it’s struggling because of destructive fishing and pollution in the ocean caused by humans. She also learns about marine mammal rescuers and is brave enough to join them in the fight to save marine animals.
► Meet the Hsin Ming here.
