Parenting
By Laura Bennett
Updated: March 29, 2017
Originally Published: March 15, 2017
Take a moment to examine the collection of books in your child’s room. How many feature a girl as the protagonist? You might be surprised by the answer.
Unfortunately, there’s a significant gender imbalance in children’s literature. A comprehensive study of nearly 6,000 children’s books released between 1900 and 2000 revealed that male characters dominate 57% of these stories, appearing in almost every single one. In stark contrast, only 31% of the books feature female characters. Time magazine even noted that among the 100 best children’s books, only 53 included female characters who speak, according to the findings from Rebel Girls.
Fortunately, there are numerous exceptional books highlighting girls as central characters. It’s crucial to present both girls and boys with narratives that promote equality and showcase female strength. Here are a few titles that inspire all children to reach for greatness while challenging outdated gender norms.
Interstellar Cinderella
Once upon a planetoid, a girl named Cinderella, surrounded by tools and gadgets, dreamed of building fantastic rockets.
Rosie Revere, Engineer
“Rosie may be shy during the day, but at night she transforms into a brilliant inventor, crafting gizmos and dreaming of becoming a great engineer. When her great-great-aunt Rose, inspired by Rosie the Riveter, comes to visit and mentions her unfulfilled goal to fly, Rosie eagerly sets out to create a device that will make her aunt’s dream come true.”
Violet the Pilot
“By the age of two, Violet Van Winkle is adept at fixing appliances around the house. By eight, she’s constructing intricate flying machines from scratch—amazing inventions like the Tubbubbler, the Bicycopter, and the Wing-a-ma-jig. Though teased by her classmates, they have no idea of her true potential.”
Ada Twist, Scientist
“When a terrible smell fills her home, Ada knows she must uncover the source. Not one to shy away from challenges, she embarks on a mission, conducting scientific experiments in her quest for discovery.”
Firebird
“In her debut picture book, dancer Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl—an everygirl—who grapples with self-doubt. Misty inspires this girl to believe in herself and demonstrates how hard work and dedication can lead to greatness, just like her.”
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
“Meet the iconic Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this engaging picture book that highlights how disagreeing can be a powerful tool for change.”
Isabella, Girl in Charge
“Drawing inspiration from trailblazing women in American politics, Isabella honors those who broke barriers. If she can get her parents ready on time, she might witness the election of the first female president!”
Ada’s Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer
“This beautifully illustrated biography captures the life of Ada Lovelace, a visionary who recognized the artistic potential of numbers.”
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
“This unique children’s book is a treasure trove of 100 bedtime stories celebrating remarkable women from both history and modern times, beautifully illustrated by 60 female artists worldwide. Each tale is crafted in the style of a fairy tale.”
Happy reading! Dive into these inspiring stories to enrich your child’s literary experience.
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In summary, it’s essential to provide children with literature that showcases strong, female characters to inspire both girls and boys. The books listed above serve as empowering narratives that encourage young readers to break free from traditional gender roles and aspire to greatness.