March is Women’s History Month! This year I’ve decided to share 35 picture books featuring women from throughout history. Activists. Scientists. Artists. Some you might consider heroic and others just quirky, but I think you’ll be pleased to see the wide variety of picture books that shed light on the lives of women over the centuries.
I’ve arranged the books chronologically and divided them into three posts. Today we begin with Hildegard von Bingen, who was born in 1098.
(See also “17 Picture Books Featuring Historical Heroines” and my index of picture book biographies.)
The Secret World of Hildegard by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007)
This biography of Christian mystic Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) is short with a positive tone, acknowledging the visions she had since birth. (You’ll have to consider how to explain them to children.) The simple, colourful illustrations are typical of Jeanette Winter. At the end of the book there is a description of a vision by Hildegard, as well as a bio and list of four sources. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner (Albert Whitman & Company, 2012)
This picture book covers the life of Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879), a writer and magazine editor who worked for decades to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the U.S. It presents her as a great role model, showing how she remained thankful and worked hard after her husband died, leaving her with five young children. An author’s note explains her other accomplishments, like promoting schools for women and writing a novel that condemned slavery (also writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb”!). A list of sources includes her magazines and poems. Illustrations are soft and realstic but also a bit playful. Recommended for ages 5 to 9.
I Could Do That: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Melanie Kroupa Books, 2005)
Esther Morris (1814-1902) worked tirelessly to get women the vote in Wyoming (the first territory to grant women’s suffrage). The lively writing in this picture book shows how she did everything she put her mind to from a young age, including running a business, moving out to the territories, and becoming a judge. The illustrations are very well done, with a touch of caricature. An author’s note tells more about her life, explaining that many facts are unknown. There’s a list of books, articles, and websites and the end pages list the years that each state/territory granted women the vote. Recommended for ages 5 to 9.
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by April Chu (Creston Books, 2015)
This biography of Ada Byron Lovelace (1815-1852) captures her passion for numbers from a young age. I found it inspiring that she was so intelligent, determined, and hardworking. The book briefly explains the mechanical calculator (Difference Engine) and computer (Analytical Engine) and ends with Lovelace creating the first computer program. It’s a great intro to math and science, especially if you aren’t very good at explaining them yourself. An author’s note gives more info and quotes; there is also a timeline of her life and partial bibliography. The illustrations really capture the period. Recommended for ages 6 to 10
Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Simon & Schuster, 2014)
This is the rhyming story of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) wanting to swim in the ocean (but it wouldn’t be modest), so Albert invented a bathing machine. It’s a playful story with illustrations that match. I recommend it if you want to show a silly side of history. An author’s note tells more about Victoria, especially her relationship with Albert and her journals. It ends with a short annotated bibliography and three websites. Recommended for ages 4 to 6.
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman (Henry Holt & Company, 2013)
This colourful picture book tells the story of Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910), the first female doctor. The brief, vivid prose brings to life Blackwell’s determination and the obstacles she overcame and shows how she changed the world in a way young children can understand. The story ends when she graduates medical school, but a two-page author’s note covers the rest of her life, including facing more opposition, opening a free medical clinic, and starting a hospital. There is also a photo of Blackwell and a list of six sources used. The illustrations are fun and slapdash. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
My Uncle Emily by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Philomel Books, 2009)
This peek into the life of Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is narrated by her six-year-old nephew Thomas Gilbert (“Gib”) and based on a true story when Emily gave Gib a poem and a dead bee to take to school. The story is thoughtful rather than action-packed and teaches lessons about loyalty, honesty, and family. It shows that poems can be difficult to understand but also powerful. The text is presented in lines like poetry and the illustrations have an old-fashioned feel. An author’s note explains what is true about the story. Recommended for ages 5 to 10.
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slave to Artist by Barbara Herkert, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Alfred A. Knopf, 2015)
Sewing Stories describes the life of Harriet Powers (1837-1910) and how hard she worked, first as a slave and then after emancipation. It describes the story quilts she created with applique representing Bible stories and local events that now hang in the Smithsonian and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The pages include sidebars to explain the historical context, which could have been incorporated into the text, but it does give the option of reading less to younger children. The illustrations enhance the story and an author’s note tells a bit more about Harriet; there’s also a photograph, bibliography, and photos of the quilts with the description of each block. Recommended for ages 6 to 9.
Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin, 2010)
This very long picture book is based on the true story of Annie Edson Taylor (1838-1921), the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel (1901). I found it to be well-written with a good vocabulary, but somewhat anticlimactic because it covers the following years and her failed attempt to make money by speaking about her feat. The black and white, nicely shaded drawings are reminiscent of old photographs. An author’s note gives some biographical info and lists all successful “barrel” riders. This could definitely inspire older kids to find out more. It includes a short bibliography. Recommended for ages 8 to 10.
Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American-born Impressionist who moved to Paris to study art and then spent most of her life in France. The short text of this picture book conveys her spirit and her art in few words. The author’s note is a two-page bio followed by a list of a dozen sources. The illustrations fit well with her paintings. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. (See also my reviews of three other picture books about Mary Cassatt.)
Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Hermann, Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (Candlewick Press, 2016)
I bet you’ve never heard of Adelaide Hermann (1853-1932), who was once a well-known magician. This book tells how Addie always wanted to be extraordinary. She married a magician and together they hired other performers for their show; when he died she took over, even though a woman had never been a magician before. The text is brief and vivid with words like shock, astonish, and dazzle often repeated. Bold illustrations. Interestingly, an author’s note explains how Adelaide Hermann was forgotten until Margaret Steele turned up her memoir and published it in 2012. Recommended for ages 6 to 9.