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Gender stereotypes are as common today as they were in the past. It is not just one movie, one TV show, one toy, or one book that reiterates this stereotype struggle; it is the absence of emphasis. Concepts such as "boys are smarter than girls" and "certain jobs are best for men, and others for women" are present in society today. As women, we have made significant strides toward equality in the past century. While we have made great progress, there is still work to be done. I am aiming to empower girls in the classroom and beyond through a text set of empowering books with unique, diverse characters. Each book presents a girl as the main character; not to provoke a discussion of feminism, but to simply shed light on the power of women at such a young age. Apart from empowerment, these books emphasize that women are just as strong, smart, and capable as men, and that any individual can truly accomplish anything that they put their mind to.

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Welcome! My name is Julia and I am a third year Elementary Education major in the University of Florida's ProTeach Program. I am a coffee lover, country music enthusiast, and avid book reader. I am passionate about finding new unique, entertaining, and refreshing books for young readers that can be incorporated into the classroom.

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Author: Patricia Polacco

Trisha is a young girl who starts school with confidence, wanting more than anything to learn how to read. However, right from the start, reading is difficult for Trisha; the words and numbers are all jumbled up and don't make any sense. When she gets her grades back, she feels embarrassed. Trisha's classmates make fun and call her "dummy" and "toad". Just when things get as bad as bad as can be, a new teacher, Mr. Falker comes in. He quickly discovers Trisha's secret - that she still can't read - and sets out to help her prove to herself that she can, and will, read.

Classroom Activities:
1) Discuss people who have made a difference in your life. What did they do? How did they make you feel? Write a Thank You letter to someone who made a difference in your life.
2) Ask: Have you ever been teased? If so, what were you teased about? Write about how this made you feel. If you saw that someone in your class was being teased by other classmates, would you stand up for them? Explain.

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Disability, Persistence, Bullying

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Thank You, Mr. Falker has 14,040 ratings and 936 reviews. Ronyell said: Boy, am I on the roll with reading various by none other than Patricia Polacco ...

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My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay (2015)

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My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay (2015)

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Author: Cari Best
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Zulay is vision-impaired, African-American girl in first grade. This heartwarming, triumphant story takes readers into the every day life of Zulay, sharing her challenges with her blindness, as well as the hobbies and activities she enjoys despite her disability. Zulay loves to sing and dance, and she is very good at math. She is spunky, silly, and loves hanging out with her friends. The one thing that makes her feel frustrated and self-conscious is when she has to use her fold-up white cane, which makes her stick out from the rest of her classmates. When the class is asked what activity they want to do on Field Day, Zulay raises her hand and suggests a race. Despite her classmates' shock, Zulay runs a race on Field Day with the help of her aide, showing her classmates that she is strong, independent, and capable even without her ability to see.

Classroom Activities:
1) Ask: "Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel like you fit in? With your family? With your friends? Why did you feel that way? What made you feel different?" Have students write a reflection on what it felt like to feel different or excluded.
2) Discuss: "What are some of Zulay's difficulties? What is she good at? Do we have things that we struggle with too? Do we have things we are good at too?" Have students think about similarities between students with and without disabilities.

Intended For: Grades K-4
Themes: Disability, Gender, Race, Friendship, Perseverance

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My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay has 259 ratings and 74 reviews. Philip said: Yesterday Liz took Poppy to the library while the other girls were at sc...

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Author: Sarah Stewart
Illustrator: David Small

Isabel, a young Spanish-speaking girl, moves from Mexico to the United States. She leaves behind her friends, her school, and most of all, her Aunt Lupita. Her new school is overwhelming, and she misses hearing people speak Spanish. But, not everything is so bad in America. Isabel experiences her first snow, and she meets kind teacher who always smiles at her. Isabel's Papa and brother Chavo come up with a creative idea: they use a box to create a quiet nook where Isabel can keep her favorite belongings. However, after a big rain storm, her box is ruined. Instead of giving up after her quiet place is crushed, she request to keep the box boxes left over from the parties her mother caters. Her family supports her new, special sanctuary as needed, purchasing paint, paper for origami, and cardboard for which Isabel uses to create rainspout reminiscent of the clay gutters back home in Mexico. The more Isabel decorates her quiet place, the more at home she feels in her new country.

Classroom Activities:
1) Ask: "Why does Isabel start a quiet place? Do you have a quiet place? If you could create your own quiet place, what would it look like?" Students may also draw what their quiet place would look like, and what they would keep there.
2) Discuss: "Do you find it hard or easy to make new friends? How can you make a new student feel welcome in our classroom?" Have students think, pair, and share their ideas with a partner.

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Immigration, Mexican Culture, Friendship, Perseverance

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The Quiet Place has 639 ratings and 156 reviews. Claire said: Wavering between 2 and 3 stars for this book.The illustrations by David Small are charmin...

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Author: Nikki Giovanni
Illustrator: Bryan Collier

This book is an inspiring account of a famous event that shaped American history. Rosa Parks is one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights movement, and this picture book celebrates her courageous act and the events that followed.This interpretation of Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat brings the heroine to life by using a series of poems. After Parks' arrest, the narrative's focus shifts to the members of the Women's Political Council who met in secret to stage the bus boycott. Along with the moving poetry, illustrations with watercolor and collage art create a fitting accompaniment to the poetic text.

Classroom Activities:
1) "Worth A Thousand Words" - Students will choose one of the beautiful illustrations that Collier created and interpret what they believe is the message of the illustration. Students will then create their own illustration using artistic materials of their choice to convey the same or a similar message.
2) "You Are The Reporter" - Students will write a series of newspaper articles about Rosa Parks' arrest and the boycott that came afterwards. Students should use books and the Internet to find their facts, and their articles should include answers to "who", "what", "when", "why", and "how". A newspaper will be created by the teacher to include each student's article.

Intended For: Grades 3-5; 6-8
Themes: Race, Gender, Persistence, Freedom

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She had not sought this moment but she was ready for it. When the policeman bent down to ask "Auntie, are you going to move?" all the str...

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Author: Jane Yolen & Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Anne-Sophie Lanquetin

Wearing or liking the color pink is not a requirement for girls! Nor is wearing dresses, being clean and collected, making tea, or playing with dolls; girls come in all different kinds. Girls play sports, make messes, climb trees, play with trucks, wear their sneakers, make mud castles, and play kickball at recess. This fun-loving picture book emphasizes that girls are not confined to stereotypes of the color pink and sparkly tiaras. Girls are empowered to unleash their energy and embrace their ability to be any kind of girl they wish to be.

Classroom Activities:
1) "Girl Power" - Host a girl power day in your classroom. Have students pick some of the most notable girls/women in the fields of sports and entertainment today. Ask students to research these girls/women and bring in information about them.This may be part of a National Women's Day lesson plan, or a National Women's History Month lesson plan (In March).
2) "Yours, Mine, or Ours?" - Many boys and girls share the same interests and activities. Make a list of all the activities, hobbies, and interests of your students. Then, graph which interests overlap and which do not. Are the results surprising to your students? Why or why not?

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Gender Stereotypes

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Not All Princesses Dress in Pink has 941 ratings and 182 reviews. Heather said: A fine concept, but shaky execution. I really disliked the addition of a...

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Author: Yangsook Choi

Unhei is nervous about starting at a brand new, American school after moving all the way from Korea. She worries that her classmates will not like her, and that they won't be able to pronounce her name. On her first day of school, instead of introducing herself with her Korean name, she tells the class that she will choose an American name by the following week. Unhei's new classmates are fascinated by the new, no-name girl and help with name suggestions by filling a glass jar with ideas for her to choose from. One day, a classmate comes to Unhei's neighborhood and learns her real name and the special meaning it holds. On the day of her name choosing, Unhei notices that the name jar is gone. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei decides to use her own Korean name, and she teachers all of her classmates how to pronounce it. Unhei is empowered by her unique name that makes her special.

Classroom Activities:
1) Discuss the questions, "How do you think Unhei felt when her classmates couldn't pronounce her name? Why did Unhei's mom tell her it's good to be different? Do you think it's good to be different?"
2) "What's In A Name?" - Ask students, "Do you like your name? Why? What do you think your name means? Students will go home and ask mom or dad why they chose their name. Then, students will search for the meaning of their name using https://www.behindthename.com
and bring it to share with the class the next day.

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Immigration, Korean Culture, Bravery

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The Name Jar has 2,688 ratings and 507 reviews. CH _Kenya said: The Name Jar, was a good story to share in the primary grades particularly at the beginni...

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She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (2010)

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She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (2010)

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Author: Audrey Vernick
Illustrator: Don Tate

This inspiring picture book biography walks readers through Effa Manley's life as an African American girl who loved baseball. Effa would go to Yankee Stadium just to see Babe Ruth's legendary swing, dreaming to be even half the player that he was. This persistent young woman would go on to be the first and only woman to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, Effa always fought for what was right, was always optimistic, and always pushed to achieve her dreams.

Classroom Activities:
1) Create a graphic organizer in the shape of a baseball diamond. At each corner, label "Baseball", "Women's Rights", "Civil Rights" and "Read the book!". Link the bases to pages of the book with facts about each content area.
2) "Honoring Effa" - On the last page in the book, there is a plaque that honors Effa as an inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ask students what the words might say at the bottom of the plaque. Have students design their own Effa Manley plaques with a paragraph about her accomplishments.

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Race, Perseverance, Gender

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She Loved Baseball has 227 ratings and 46 reviews. Sandy said: Here's a book that's been around for half a decade and received nowhere NEAR the attention...

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Author: Tanya Lee Stone
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman

Elizabeth Blackwell, a curious young girl, refuses to accept that women are meant to be mothers and wives, and at most, teachers or seamstresses. Instead, she rejects the argument that women are not smart enough to take on more challenging careers. She wants to be a doctor. Not taking "no" for answer, Elizabeth persists and attends medical school, eventually becoming the first female doctor. Her achievement opened doors for women doctors all over the world.

Classroom Activities:
1) "Persistence" - Despite a variety of obstacles, Elizabeth Blackwell persisted in her goal to become a doctor. Ask students to think about and then write about a time in their lives when persistence was needed. Students can also illustrate their short stories. The stories will be bound into a book to share with the class.
2) "Women Pioneers" - Gather a collection of picture book biographies featuring women who were pioneers in their field. Divide students into small groups to read one book and take notes. Ask students to summarize the book to then share with the class in a short group presentation. This may be part of a National Women's Day lesson plan, or a National Women's History Month lesson plan (In March).

Intended For: Grades 2-4
Themes: Persistence, Gender Stereotypes, Women's Rights

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Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? (Christy Ottaviano Books)

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Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? has 1,475 ratings and 288 reviews. Paul said: Tanya Lee Stone returns to the picture book format to bring us the story o...