Strong, Bold, & Gutsy Girls in Picture Books

Picture books featuring the boldest of girls.
Updated September 19, 2022
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
Vashti Harrison
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Meet the little leaders. They're brave. They're bold. They changed the world. Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women...
Grace for President
Kelly DiPucchio
Paper Book
A fresh, fun, and "thought-provoking" New York Times bestseller about the American electoral college and why every vote counts from bestselling and award-winning duo Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham. "Where are the girls?" When Grace's teacher reveals that the...
Rosie Revere, Engineer
Andrea Beaty
Paper Book
The beloved New York Times bestselling picture book about pursuing one's passion with persistence and learning to celebrate each failure on the road to achieving one's dreams.And now you can follow Rosie's further adventures-with her friends Iggy Peck and Ada Twist-in the instant New York Times...
Ada Twist, Scientist
Andrea Beaty
Paper Book
Inspired by real-life makers Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie, this beloved #1 bestseller champions STEM, girl power and women scientists in a rollicking celebration of curiosity, the power perseverance, and the importance of asking "Why?" Don't miss Ada's further adventures-with her friends...
The Name Jar
Yangsook Choi
Paper Book
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she? Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of...
Amazing Grace
Mary Hoffman
Paper Book
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.
Katy and the Big Snow
Virginia Lee Burton
Paper Book
Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.
I am Rosa Parks
Brad Meltzer
Paper Book
Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks is the 3rd hero in in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always...
Antoinette
Kelly DiPucchio
Paper Book
A 2017 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Winner "Fans of Gaston (2014) rejoice! Now it's Antoinette's turn to shine." --Booklist (starred review) "Delightful...an action-packed romp." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Three cheers for the winning...
A Bad Case of Stripes
David Shannon
Paper Book
"What we have here is a bad case of stripes. One of the worst I've ever seen!"Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don't like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she's so worried...
Big Red Lollipop
Rukhsana Khan
Paper Book
Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along. Rubina is mortified, but she can't convince Ami that you just don't bring your younger sister to your friend's party. So both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win every...
Beautiful
Stacy McAnulty
Paper Book
Every girl is unique, talented, and lovable. . . .Every girl is BEAUTIFUL. Much more than how one looks on the outside, true beauty is found in conquering challenges, showing kindness, and spreading contagious laughter. Beautiful girls are empowered and smart and strong! ...
Brave Irene
William Steig
Paper Book
This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene. Brave Irene is Irene Bobbin, the dressmaker's daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn't feeling so well and can't...
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred
Samantha R. Vamos
Paper Book
"This is the story of how the farm maiden and all the farm animals worked together to make the rice pudding that they serve at the fiesta. With the familiarity of "The House That Jack Built," this story bubbles and builds just like the ingredients of the arroz con leche that everyone enjoys....
Cleonardo, The Little Inventor
Mary Grandpre
Paper Book
From Caldecott Honor artist Mary GrandPré, a tale of BIG ideas, little inventors, and the magic of creativity.Cleonardo's father is an inventor. So was her grandfather, her great-grandfather, and all the great-greats before them. Cleo wants to be an inventor too. She tries to help her...
A Chair for My Mother
Vera B. Williams
Paper Book
This classic and heartwarming picture book was written and illustrated by the celebrated Vera B. Williams and was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association.  "A tender knockout. It's rare to find much vitality, spontaneity, and depth of feeling in such a simple,...
Each Kindness
Jacqueline Woodson
Paper Book
WINNER OF A CORETTA SCOTT KING HONOR AND THE JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD! Each kindness makes the world a little better This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott Honor winner Coming On...
Dancing in the Wings
Debbie Allen
Paper Book
Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina. So for now she's just dancing in the wings, watching from behind the curtain, and hoping that one day it will be her turn to shimmer in the spotlight. When the...
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Paper Book
A 2004 Caldecott Honor Book Ella Sarah may be little, but she has a BIG sense of style--and it isn't at all like that of her mother, father, and older sister. Yet they all want her to dress just like them! Ella Sarah will have none of it--and when her flamboyantly dressed...
Extra Yarn
Mac Barnett
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen comes Extra Yarn, a Caldecott Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestseller. A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture...
Feather
Rémi Courgeon
Paper Book
A beautiful book about a tenacious girl in a male household that delivers a message of acceptance, equality, and love.

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