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Main Book

1. The Hope Chest by Karen Schwaback

EngageNY P-12 ELA Text List

2. All Families are Special by Norma Simon

3. The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully

Nonfiction Books

4. Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy

5. Who is Malala Yousafazi? by Dina Brown

6. History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote by Kate Messner

7. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

8. Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz

9. Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be Awesome Scientists by Martha Freeman

Picture Books

10. My Feminist ABC by duopress

11. I Am Enough by Grace Byers

12. Franny's Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet

13. Big Boys Cry by Jonty Howely

14. Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

15. IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi

16. Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

17. Dream Big, Little One by Vashit Harrison

18. Baby Feminists by Libby Babbot-Klein

Free Choice

19. The Prettiest by Brigit Young

20. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

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There are two books in the free choice category that do not fit into any of the previous categories. One of the books is a middle grade book, while the other is a chapter book.

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There are nine books in the picture book category.

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There are six books in the nonfiction book category.

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This middle grade novel explicitly tackles how damaging the objectification of girls by their peers can be, and portrays the nascent feminism of these girls in finding their voices and fighting back, in their own ways, against those who would reduce them to little more than their appearance.  When a list ranking the fifty prettiest girls in the eighth grade comes out, Eve Hoffman is shocked to find herself number one, Sophie Kane, resident Queen Bee, is even more shocked to find herself at number two, and Nessa Flores-Brady, Eve's best friend, is not surprised to see she's not on the list. As the list creates shockwaves through the eighth grade, Eve, Nessa, and Sophie eventually overcome old animosities and team up to find out who wrote the list and bring that person to justice.  Along the way they create new friendships, work towards figuring out who they are, and fight back against the sexism and objectification exemplified by the existence of that list.
Link to purchase The Prettiest
Young, B. (2020). The Prettiest. Roaring Book Press.

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This alphabet picture book pairs each letter of the alphabet with a word aligned with feminist goals of inclusion, empowerment, and possibilities, and a short accompanying phrase or sentence elaborating on the word.  Some words are verbs, such as Invent, others are nouns, such as Opportunity, while others are specific organizations, such as NOW (National Organization of Women) or people, such as Jane Austen.
This book presents readers with an easy-to-understand introduction to various important aspects of feminism, and is the basis for Activity #3.
Link to purchase My Feminist ABC
duopress. (2018). My Feminist ABC (I. Pizzolante, Illus.). Workman Publishing.

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Focusing primarily on young African American girls, but with a diverse array of characters, this picture book offers readers affirmations of their worth and gentle reminders to respect oneself and others.  Told through similes such as "Like a ladder, here to climb, and like the air, to rise above," this book emphasizes not only unity with others, but most importantly self-love.
Link to purchase I Am Enough
Byers, G. (2018). I Am Enough (K. A. Bobo, Illus). Balzer + Bray.

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Text #12: Franny's Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet

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Text #12: Franny's Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet

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This picture book provides readers with a clear, explicit example of a father who is a feminist.  Franny's father first becomes a feminist as a boy, when he's puzzled by the idea that certain chores belong to boys and others belong to girls; when he swaps chores with his sister, he sees that his sister is better at mowing the lawn, while he prefers doing laundry.  This early introduction to feminism carried over to his own parenting, as he not only teaches his daughter, Franny, how to do things generally stereotyped as "boy" activities--working with tools, fishing, etc.--but he is also the primary caregiver while Franny's mom works. He encourages Franny in all of her endeavors, while also teaching her about historic women and the importance of activism on behalf of one's beliefs.
Link to purchase Franny's Father is a Feminist
Leet, R. (2018). Franny's Father is a Feminist (M. Walker, Illus). POW!

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Before setting off for his first day at a new school, Levi is nervous, so his father gives him some advice: "Big boys don't cry."  However, along the way there, Levi sees lots of big boys--grown men--crying; he sees sailors crying, musicians crying, old men crying, young men crying, and a myriad of other "big boys" crying.  While Levi ends up having a good first day at school and doesn't cry, when he arrives home, he finds his father crying.  The two decide that big boys do cry, and that's ok.  In challenging gender stereotypes about what boys are--and are not--supposed to do, this book provides a feminist perspective about boys expressing their feelings.
Link to purchase Big Boys Cry
Howley, J. (2019). Big Boys Cry (J. Howley, Illus.). Random House.

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Text #14: Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

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Text #14: Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

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When Grace Campbell sees her classroom poster with all of the presidents' pictures on it, she can't help but ask, "Where are the girls?" Grace decides that she wants to become president, which leads to her school staging an election.  With each of her classmates representing a state and its electoral votes, Grace must campaign against Thomas Cobb, the class spelling bee champion and soccer captain.  As Grace makes speeches and fulfills campaign promises, even before the election takes place, she learns about the electoral process, and her classmates learn that the best candidate for the job is not necessarily based on tradition or gender, but rather based on whomever is the best person for the job.
Link to purchase Grace for President
DiPucchio, K. (2008). Grace for President (L. Pham, Illus.). Disney Hyperion.

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Text #15: IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi

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Text #15: IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi

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In this picture book aimed at elementary aged students, with a foreword by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, the originator of the term "Intersectional feminism," readers are introduced to a diversity of young girls representing different races, ethnicities, religions, physical abilities, countries of origin, gender identities, family structures, native languages, and immigrant status.  The book portrays the overlapping identities of these girls and offers glimpses into how these intersecting identities affect how each girl experiences the world.  With a goal of promoting allyship, the book's refrain provides readers with an intentional, active way they can be allies to others, stating "Where there's room for some, we make room for all/friends can be allies no matter how small!" (p. 14-15).
Link to purchase IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All
Johnson, C., Council, L., and Choi, C. (2019). IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All  (A. Seil Smith, Illus). Dottier Press.

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IntersectionAllies--we make room for all

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Text #16: Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple

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Text #16: Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple

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This picture book celebrates all the ways girls can do whatever it is their hearts desire, whether it's playing sports, rolling in the mud with their dogs, building treehouses with power tools, or saving themselves from a tower, while also wearing, in the book's refrain, their sparkly crown.  This book undoes the trope of the prim, proper, and passive princess, instead portraying princesses as a diverse array of strong, active, and capable girls.
Link to purchase Not all Princesses Dress in Pink
Yolen, J. and Stemple, H.E.Y. (2010). Not all Princesses Dress in Pink (A. Lanquetin, Illus.). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

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Text #4: Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy

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Text #4: Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy

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A graphic novel that portrays the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Starting with her earliest childhood days, when her mother decided that her daughter, Joan Ruth Bader, wouldn't just be one of three Joans in her kindergarten class, but would instead be known as the singular Ruth, this book provides young readers insight into RBG's academic successes, personal struggles, intellectual gifts, legal strategies, and judicial accomplishments. This book provides a creative, engaging way of portraying the biography of an important feminist to a generation of young girls who may only know about RBG through her recent pop icon status and untimely passing, while also providing them with inspiration that with determination, they, too, can follow in RBG's footsteps, whether through law or any of the many doors RBG's legal work has opened to them.
Link to purchase Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice
Levy, D. (2019). Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice (W. Gardener, Illus.). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

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Text #5: Who Is Malala Yousafazi? by Dina Brown

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Text #5: Who Is Malala Yousafazi? by Dina Brown

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Part of the Who Was? series, this book provides readers with the details of Malala Yousafazi's life, including her love of learning, her struggle to obtain an education after the Taliban invaded Pakistan, and her brave decision to write and speak about the effect of the Taliban on girls' education. The book also covers Malala's shooting in the face by a Taliban man, her recovery abroad, and her being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Link to purchase Who is Malala Yousafazi?
Brown, D. (2015). Who is Malala Yousafazi? Penguin Workshop.

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Text #6: History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote by Kate Messner

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Text #6: History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote by Kate Messner

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In this entertaining book, the history of women's suffrage in America is told. However, this book does not just focus on the handful of famous moments--such as the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848--and handful of famous women--such as Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Alice Paul--that are perhaps the most widely known in the struggle for suffrage.  Instead, this book takes care to discuss the work of Black suffragists, including Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Ida B. Wells-Barnett,  and Mary Church Terrell, and the racism of certain suffragists (such as Susan B. Anthony) and suffrage groups (such as the NAWSA).  It also details the activism of suffragists, the violence they were sometimes subject to (including jailhouse force feedings through tubes), and the same-sex relationships some of them had.  Finally, this book's final chapter, "The Fight Continues," details the contemporary work of those, such as Stacey Abrams, who continue to fight for the voting rights of all eligible voters.
Link to purchase History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote
Messner, K. (2020). History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote (D. Meconis, Illus.). Random House.

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History Smashers--womens right to vote cover

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Text #7: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

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Text #7: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo

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The biographies of 100 women are presented in this anthology, which received a record-breaking amount of crowdfunding for its initial publication.  These biographies, and their accompanying illustrations, represent women from different countries, different eras, and different areas of accomplishment, and include scientists, writers, activists, politicians, musicians, artists, and even a pirate. Readers are provided with the obstacles overcome and achievements accomplished by each woman profiled, with a goal that these stories will inspire its readers and help create "a world where gender will not define how big you can dream, how far you can go" (xii).
Link to purchase Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Favilli, E. and Cavallo, F. (2016). Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Timbuktu Labs.

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Text #8: Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz

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Text #8: Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz

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An A-Z book illustrated with bold, black and white images set against colorful backdrops, this book celebrating American feminists seeks to add women back into the narrative of history while celebrating a wide variety of radical American women--some well-know, some lesser-known--who have helped shape and shift American history. The book includes a diversity of women such as Dolores Huerta, the Grimke sisters, Patti Smith, and Wilma Mankiller, and provides a detailed accounting of their contributions to American history.
Link to purchase Rad American Women A-Z
Schatz, K. (2015). Rad American Women A-Z (M. Klein Stahl, Illus.). City Lights Books.

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Text #9: Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be Awesome Scientists by Martha Freeman

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Text #9: Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be Awesome Scientists by Martha Freeman

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Spanning centuries, countries, and scientific specialties, this anthology presents readers with the biographies of twenty women scientists.  Some of the scientists, like Rosalind Franklin, may be known to readers as the woman whose crystallography images of DNA were used by Watson and Crick to publish a paper describing the structure of DNA--without giving Franklin proper attribution--while other scientists may be new discoveries for readers.  For example, this book profiles Ellen Swallow Richards, a 19th century geochemist who founded the field of sanitation engineering and home economics, Tu YouYou, a pharmacologist who developed a life-saving treatment for malaria, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell, an astronomer who discovered pulsars.  In addition to profiling these varied accomplished scientists, the book also provides its readers with tips on how to become scientists themselves.
Link to Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be Awesome Scientists
Freedman, M. (2020). Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be Awesome Scientists (K. Wu, Illus.). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

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Born Curious - 20 Awesome women who grew up to be scientists

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Text #1: Main Text The Hope Chest by Karen Schwabach

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Text #1: Main Text The Hope Chest by Karen Schwabach

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*An EngageNY P-12 ELA Book*
Set in the midst of the fight to get the 19th Amendment ratified, this historical novel provides readers with an up-close account of the injustices women--and African Americans--faced in 1920. When eleven year old Violet Mayhew's older sister, Chloe, used the money she inherited from their aunt to buy herself a car and run away, Violet, raised in wealth and privilege, realizes the world is much bigger than her small Pennsylvania town.  Chafing at the limited expectations her family and society have for her, Violet sets out to find her older sister.  After many adventures that take Violet from New York City, to Washington, DC, to Nashville, Violet eventually finds her sister in Tennessee, where Chloe is fighting for women's right to vote.  The book culminates with the final, dramatic vote of the Tennessee state legislature in favor of ratifying the 19th Amendment, and Violet, having witnessed both the effects of women's political powerlessness and racial segregation on her journey, decides to set for herself a future goal of college and then a career as a lawyer.

This book highlights the historically sexist treatment of women, the limited opportunities that were available to many women, particularly women of color, and the important moments in American women's fight for equality and the right to vote. Given both its focus on some of the historical reasons for the need for and importance of feminism, along with the gender issues that still resonate today, this book is the main book for my Big Ideas project, and is the basis of Activity 1 & Activity 2.
Link to purchase The Hope Chest
Schwabach, K. (2008). The Hope Chest. Yearling.

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1. Why are there feminist children’s books?

2. What are the tenets of feminism present in feminist children’s books?
3.  How do feminist books expand readers’ knowledge of women and women's history?

4.  What are feminist children’s books trying to show their readers?

5.  What makes a children’s book feminist?

6.  How do feminist books explore gender roles?

7.  How do feminist books promote diverse representation?

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Text #17: Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison

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Text #17: Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison

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In this picture book, the reader is introduced to inspiring African American women who have been leaders in their respective fields.  Through imperative exhortations, young readers are encouraged to "reach for the stars," "be bold," "go the distance," "find your stage" and "express your creativity"; each encouraging phrase is paired with several women (such as, for example, Shirley Chisholm, Maya Angelou, or Oprah Winfrey) who exemplify these phrases.
Link to purchase Dream Big, Little One
Harrison, V. (2018). Dream Big, Little One (V. Harrison, Illus.).  Little, Brown and Company.

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Why feminist children's books? Who needs them, anyway?

If the recent explosion of texts focused on providing children with examples of inspiring women, models of inclusive relationships and families, and portrayals of diverse gender roles are any indication, the answer is that there is, in fact, a significant desire for books that not only represent the realities of the contemporary world we live in, but that also portray the hopes for the kind of world we want to live in.

Without getting into the long, thorny history of feminism in the United States (although if you want to get some insight into the conflicts that have existed for centuries, I recommend taking a gander at Kate Messner's History Smashers book about women's suffrage in the US), I think it is important to note how, at this particular moment in 2020, we need feminist children's books that look back at the past, that reflect where we are now, and that look towards building a more just and inclusive future.

Centered on the essential questions included here, this text set provides the beginnings of answers to those questions, but is limited both by the parameters of the assignment and whatever implicit biases and gaps in understanding that are my own.  What I do hope these questions and set of texts do is encourage people to read these feminist texts to the children in their lives, to seek out additional feminist texts to add to their collections, and to support and encourage the creation of new feminist texts for children.  I hope these books inspire you, and the children to whom you read them, to ask hard questions, to reflect upon the feminist issues raised by these books, and to work towards creating a more just and more inclusive world.

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Text #2: All Families Are Special by Norma Simon

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Text #2: All Families Are Special by Norma Simon

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*An EngageNY P-12 ELA Book*
This picture book portrays and celebrates the many ways families are constructed. When the class of children in this book learn that their teacher, Mrs. Mack, is going to be a grandmother, she invites each of them to share about their families.  The families portrayed in the book include large, multigenerational families, same-sex parent families, families with only one parent after a parent's death, blended families, multiracial families, and families with divorced parents.  Each family is portrayed as a valid familial construction, with each family's purpose to love and support the children through good and bad times.  With a focus on diversity and inclusion, this book provides a feminist affirmation of the validity and value of all families, regardless of who is included in each one.
Link to purchase All Families are Special
Simon, N. (2003). All Families are Special (T. Flavin, Illus). Albert Whitman & Company.

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Text #18: Baby Feminists by Libby Babbott-Klein

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Text #18: Baby Feminists by Libby Babbott-Klein

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In this fun lift-the-flap book, famous feminists such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mae Jemison, Frida Kahlo, and Barack and Michelle Obama are depicted both as adults and, under each flap as babies.  Each page celebrates their work as feminists, with the story culminating with the definition of feminism as "every one of them has fought for equality for women and men" and reminding babies (and perhaps their adult caregivers) that they can do so, too.
Link to purchase Baby Feminists
Babbott-Klein, L. (2018). Baby Feminists (J. Walker, Illus.). Viking.

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Text #20: The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

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Text #20: The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

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The first of the chapter book series, this book introduces Princess Magnolia and her monster-fighting, superhero ninja alter ego, the Princess in Black.  While Princess Magnolia is a glass slipper-wearing, snail-fearing image of princess perfection, as the Princess in Black, she is tough, brave, and athletic, easily vanquishing monsters that dare to come above ground from depths of Monster Land to eat goats. Humorous and engaging, this book shows readers that a person can be both feminine and fierce.
Link to purchase The Princess in Black
Hale, S. and Hale, D. (2014). The Princess in Black (L. Pham, Illus). Candlewick Press.

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(Based on The Hope Chest)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Cognitive

Students will identify  historical women’s suffrage events in The Hope Chest by listing five events in a graphic organizer.

Students will demonstrate their understanding of point of view by writing in the first person perspective.

Affective

Students will select one of the historical events in The Hope Chest for their writing topic.

Students will share their reactions to their chosen historical event in the graphic organizer.

Psychomotor

Students will navigate the postcard maker website in order to input their writing in the correct locations.

Students will create a digital, print-ready postcard on the postcard maker website.

Students will build their digital postcard by using the postcard maker website.

ACTIVITY
In the early 20th century, letters and postcards were popular and effective ways of communicating to friends and family who were far away.  In The Hope Chest, Chloe sends her sister, Violet, letters detailing her adventures, including her work on behalf of women’s suffrage.  In this assignment, students will be asked to identify and choose one of the many historical events surrounding the fight for women’s suffrage in the United States in 1919 that are portrayed in the historical novel The Hope Chest.  Once they have identified and chosen a historical event, they will use the NCTE’s Read Write Think Postcard Creator to write a first person account on a postcard, describing the event and their reaction to it.

Resources:
NCTE Postcard Creator Link

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(Based on The Hope Chest)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Cognitive

Students will examine early 20th century women’s suffrage postcards by visiting the Women Suffrage Memorabilia website and the Library of Congress Women Fight for the Vote exhibition website.

Students will analyze the techniques used in women’s suffrage postcards by filling out a graphic organizer.

Affective

Students will reflect on the emotions evoked by the pro-suffrage images on the postcards.

Students will compare the visual and textual techniques used by the postcards.

Psychomotor

Student will illustrate their postcard by using the primary source material for inspiration.

ACTIVITY
One of the ways in which suffragists promoted the idea of women’s suffrage was through a variety of propaganda, including postcards.  In this assignment, students will first examine the images used on early 20th century postcards to promote women’s suffrage.  After discussing the images, writing down key features on a graphic organizer, and noting the emotional reactions evoked by each image, students will decorate the front of their postcards from the previous activity, using the primary sources as inspiration.

Primary Sources:

Women's Suffrage Postcards Link

Library of Congress Suffrage Postcards Exhibit Link

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(Based on My Feminist ABC)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Cognitive

Students will analyze the alphabet entries in the My Feminist ABC book.

Students will identify the letter of the alphabet for which they will create a new entry page.

Students will explain their illustrated entry page to the class.

Affective

Students will choose a feminist-related topic for their new entry page.

Students will collaborate in the creation of their alphabet entry page.

Psychomotor

Students will design a feminism-related alphabet entry page as a poster for display.

Students will display their illustrated entry page to the class.

ACTIVITY
After reading and discussing the picture book My Feminist ABC as a class, students will create their own feminist-related alphabet page.  Working in pairs, students will choose a letter, will decide upon a topic, and will create an illustrated entry that reinforces the letter and topic they have chosen. Students may choose to create their page based on a noun or verb (such as the pages for “Activism” and “Invent”), a historical event (such as suffrage), or an important feminist figure (such as the “R” page, which focuses as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rosa Parks).  Students will be provided access to books and websites that contain information on important events and figures related to feminism.

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Text #3: The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully

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Text #3: The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully

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*An EngageNY P-12 ELA Book*
Set in the 19th century, this book provides a fictionalized recounting of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her 1880 attempt to vote in Tenafly, New Jersey.  Recounting her childhood to Cordelia, a young neighbor, Stanton tells of her older brother's untimely death, her father's subsequent despair, and her own unsuccessful attempt to lift her father out of despair by proving to him, through her academic successes, that girls were just as valuable as boys. Stanton's past is woven into her present-day actions on Election Day, when she attempts to cast her vote, and is denied the opportunity to do so.  With Cordelia as witness, Stanton asserts her rights to vote as a citizen, and speaks of the day when Cordelia will be able to cast a vote herself.
Link to purchase The Ballot Box Battle
McCully, E. A. (1996). The Ballot Box Battle (E.A. McCully, Illus.). Alfred A. Knopf.